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RECORDED BY * STONEHAVEN Prop. T. CLERKIN Phone: 41372 General Meeting: 1946

It was very appropriate that the first General Meeting of the O.C.S. should have been held in Carlow Technical School, formerly the Assembly Rooms. Nothing daunted by the date, April 1st, 1946, the Society launched an effort which would have gladdened the heart of the previous owner, George Bernard Shaw. Shaw had made the gift of the premises to Most Rev. Dr. Foley for the people of Carlow, and the premises started on a new life is a two-roomed Technical School in 1923. A year short of its Golden Jubilee, the premises will cease to be a part of the Vocational School complex early in 1972 when the new school opens on the Kilkenny Road. It's history, like numerous invaluable records, has been preserved in the pages of "Carloviana". The Society has given us, through the Journal, a monument to its work, a treasury of scholarship and research. Our sincere thanks to the Officers, Committees, Editors and members who have made membership of the O.C.S. in its 25 years one of the most rewarding features of the cultural life of this ancient town. Murray's, 25 Dublin Street Carlow

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Renowned For Excellence FOLEY'S MEDICAL HALL LTD. OFF LICENCE A 66, TULLOW ST., SPECIALITY CARLOW- Phone: 41519 CARLOVIAN A Silver Jubilee Vol. 1. No. 20. New Series. Dec. 1971. TWENTY-FIVE years. A quarter of a century. A long time to look back on: a longer time to look forward to. Many Journal of the sweeping changes have taken place in Carlow town and county Old Carlow Society since that first meeting was held in the Town Hall on April 1st, Editor: 1946 with a view to forming the Society. There was an overflow E. F. BROPHY attendance at this meeting. Printed by Nationalist Printers, Carlow. When the first general meeting was held in Carlow Technical School (Old Assembly Rooms) on Wednesday, 1st May, there was little public support. It was with difficulty that the first officers and committee were elected.

The object of the Society was " to foster and promote an interest in the history of Carlow and district, and in particular CONTENTS to preserve a permanent record of life in Carlow in the past." Of those first officers and committee of 1946, only five are with us in 1971 to celebrate their foresight in founding the Old Our Chairman writes . . . 8 Carlow Society. · James Haughton and Young Ire- land . 9 Our first journal, " Carloviania", was published in January, 1947 with a modest 500 copies. This first issue has now become Local Folklore 13 a collector's item. Since that time we have brought twenty-four journals to date with over 1,000 copies printed each year. A year in the life of a town 14

Art MacMurrough and Richard II 18 Glancing through those twenty-four journals, a great tribute must be paid to those contributors of papers (some of whom Who was McEvoy? 22 are no longer with us) for the amount of work on historical research that was put into the collecting of material for these Some Co. Carlow Wills 24 articles. In fact were it not voluntary work of these faithful Prize-winning essay 26 and dedicated enthusiasts who contributed the papers, the editors who compiled them, the photographs which will eventually Folklore from a historian 27 become history, and above all, the advertisers without whose help " Carlioviania " could not be produced. Witch or Martyr? 28

The holed stone of Aghade 31 The nucleus of a Local Folk Museum envisaged by the founders has begun to take shape. Many items of the past have William Marshall 33 already been donated; or promised when suitable premises become available. The lack of a place suitable for a folk museum was The structure of politics and the founders'-and still is-our big problem. power 35

John Amnesty Nolan 41 In sending this Silver Jubilee Edition of " Carloviania " to press the Editor hopes that the work of the past twenty-five Secretary's Report . 42 years will spur the members on to greater efforts to record the history and traditions of the town and county of Carlow.

This Editorial contributed by Miss M. T. Kelly, Joint Vice Chairman and a founder member of the O.C.S.

7 OUR CHAIRMAN WRITES Alec Burns

SINCE WE last published "Carloviana" the Society has whenever he read a paper there was always a bumper suffered a more than usual drain of its members through attendance as his talks were interspersed with so much the efforts of the Great Reaper; hardly a monthly meet­ of his personal memories. He was modest to a degree ing passed without our having to record our condolen­ and always characterised his articles as a mere jotting ces. We hope they are all now enjoying the just reward down of interesting facts written from a purely personal of their wordly labours. and homely aspect. History had always held a warm spot The great Reaper took a very heavy toll, starting in in his heart and would be contributors of Journal arti­ April, with the loss of Harry Fennell our past Chairman, cles found in him a great adviser. He was always very who although not being in the best of health for some happy when, in his capacity as Works Manager, he was time previous had found the strength to be present at able to give so much help in the early editions of the several of the Society's monthly meetings. Just a few Journal. Its style and format which it has retained suc­ days before his sudden demise, he was present at a lec­ cessfully over the years were John Ellis' pioneer effort. ture in the Technical School, Dublin Street, by Barry Raf­ Finally we remember Miss Alice Tracey who came to tery on the excavations being carried out at Rathgall. Carlow around 40 years ago from Derry and immedia­ The Society's meetings meant quite a lot to Harry, they tely set herself the task of becoming a worthy member were part of his life, he had the gift of being able to make of her newly adopted town. She did a lot of research to everybody, at those meetings, feel very much at home. provide a little booklet on Graiguecullen's past, which The older members will never forget the lovely garden was published uder the pen name of "Rose Madder", to teas which his good wife generously provided at the close provide funds for the building of St. Clare's Church. When of some of the Summer outings. our Society was formed in 1946 she was one of its first members and contributors in both papers read to the I think one of Harry's proudest nights was when on members and published in the Journal, the fist editions his own personal invitation, Dr. Simms, Archbishop of of which were to her like new school books to an eager Dublin, came down and gave one of his famous illustra­ school learner. ted lectures on the historic 'Book of Kells' to a crowded and appreciative audience, he felt very happy about it. Coming from the North, she was very patriotic indeed His "History of St. Mary's Church and Killeshin", and this extended into local patriotism here from her which the parish have since printed in booklet form due deep research into facts of the town's past which hither­ to its authenticity, was ju~t another example of his love to had been unknown to even many of its older kno\\!'­ and dedication to the things of the past. ledgeable citizens, thus becoming more Carlow than the Carlovians themselves. Her articles on the Athy Road, The next blow was the loss of Monsignor Millar, P.P., Maire Ni Siubhlaigh, Michael O'Hanrahan, Hogan the scul­ Newbridge. Although unable to attend the meetings for ptor, etc. all bear the hallmark of a dedicated scholar; many years since he left Carlow, he never lost interest her capacity for research was unbounded. in the Society and always inquired as to its progress over the years. His History of the 'Barrow Valley' which was She was also very keenly interested in the Legion of of a very high literary standard and contained very use­ Mary and helped to establish a more than active branch in ful information which had not previously been published, Carlow. She counted its founder Frank Duff among her per­ was of great value to schools. His lectures in the formative sonal friends and continued as a member up to recent years of the Society were very much appreciated and years when she had to relinquish all her activity in the helped more than a little to create interest in the work many Societies with which she was connected due to her of the Society which has been successfully contained ill-health. over the years. To him then this was great satisfaction These appreciations would not be complete without re­ as it showed a reaping of the harvest of which he had ference to the recent passing of Bill Nolan, who had been one of the original sowers. been a contributor for the past few years to the columns Of John Ellis what more can be said than has already of "Carloviana." been written. He too like Monsignor Millar was a pillar His article on "The Battle of the Pound" and "The Last of strength in the Society's early years. His inspiration, Days of Father Murphy" were real informative and his­ his knowledge of the town's past which was evidenced torical gems, while his novel, "They First Arose", which by his many articles read to the members and printed he said was "written between the pints" (he served in later in the Journal, his shining example of dedica­ his own lounge bar) showed what a brilliant writer and tion to everything appertaining to the good of Carlow in­ novelist he was. In this he successfully linked life in his fluenced many of the members to extend themselves fur­ own district with the experiences of his home place dur­ ther in the Society's interest and redouble their efforts­ ing the 1798 period. all of which has helped to place it in the eminent posi­ What a pity a local writer such as Bill had his life cut tion it holds today in the soc al life of the town. He short at so early an age with such a promising career be- was a great raconteur and his stories of past characters of whom he had personal reminiscences were a delight: (Continued on page 12)

8 r James Haughton and Young Ireland By Jean Rowlands

THE NINETEENTH century in its own most characteristic v1t1es were peripheral to the dominant act1v1t1es that developments was the century of poyer politics and power established the power characteristic of the period. economics: of aggressive nationalism, imperialism, trusts, The best introduction to James Haughton is offered "captains of industry," and "Napoleons of finance." These by Samuel Haughton in a memoir to his father: developments were all justified by the philosophies of the century: whether by the ego-centered, race-centered, and "His sense of duty often urged him to condemn nation-centered romanticism of the Fichteans; the super­ strongly, and he never could sanction, the not uncom­ man philosophy of the Nietzscheans; the "struggle for mon idea - that war, slavery, tyranny, oppression, survival" philosophy of the various evolutionists; the because aided and abetted by the educated classes, cosmic dialectic of the Hegelians; the self-interest mis­ were, on that account, to be less seriously castigated interpretations of Adam Smith's economics; or the dialec­ than crimes and follies of the poor and the ignorant. 1 tic materialism of the Marxians . He had a directness of perception which forced him to In view of the above-mentioned developments and see that similar acts are similar, and would not allow philosophies, a study of James Haughton, the Irish philan­ him to see nominal differences. "3 thropist, is indeed an interesting one. Perhaps more than any other of his contemporaries in Ireland, Haughton We shall see upon further examination of his ideas and most consistently represents that class of nineteenth actions how this underlying principle s,haped James century men and women who were the living heirs to the Haughton into a man unique to his age. tradition of liberalism and enlightment, to the eighteenth Born in Carlow of Quaker parents on 5 May 1795, century philosophies which saw man as possessing a Haughton was educated at Ballitore school. At the age dignity that required him to claim and defend such rights of seventeen he went to Cork to learn business, and in as would give him and his fellows a chance to grow in 1817 settled in Dublin as a corn merchant in partnership mental grasp and social responsibility. with his brother.' These early days in Dublin made him James Haughton was of that class of individuals react­ a firm believer in self-help and in the policy of "agree ing against contemporary philosophies which saw man as to differ without quarrelling." However, his liberal politics largely the creation of mechanical and subrational forces; were not tolerably decided until November 1830 in re­ and which granted him "rights" which were less those sponse to the idea that no Reform Bill was in view in 5 of rational growth than of self-aggrandizement. He ques­ Parliament. tioned that which was evident in one thought-system after Much can be said of Haughton's civic and political another: the insistence that individual man or some activities. His attention was first given to subjects of specific portion of humanity-race, nation, or economic public interest when he became a subscriber to the Dublin class-can go it alone; can act out the role of triumphant Temperance Society soon after its formation in 1829.6 protagonist in a drama of conflict in which some other By 15'38 •he was a frequent correspondent to the public portion of humanity is to be overcome.2 press which, until 1872, made his name well-known on So pervasive was this climate of opinion in the nine­ temperance, anti-slavery, British India, peace, anti­ teenth century that most of those who lived within it capital punishment, sanitary reform, suffrage, education, and knew no other took it for granted. The contemporary sanitary reform, and various other political subjects. concepts of "economic man," or "patriotic man," left the Of the topics listed, Haughton was most dedicated to individual trapped in a self-interest, or a national interest, those of temperance, anti-slavery, peace and free trade, so narrowly defined that it had no use for many of his while attempting to maintain some kind of Irish national creative, rational, and emphatic powers. This is not to attachment as well. But his mrn:al convictions more often say the nineteenth century did not produce its measure than not tempered whatever nationalist convictions he of men and women of conscience-men such as John may have harboured. In a private letter written in August Stuart Mill, Robert Owen, Wendell Phillips, Ralph Waldo 1841 he confided that ". . . I hate all party-work, my Emerson, and no less, James Haughton; women such as efforts are for moral reform; political reforms would Llllian Wald and Jane Addams. However, the philosophies follow as a matter of course. I would instruct the people, by which these figures were animated were not in the and give all equal rights."7 main current of the century's thought-stream. Their acti- Despite this statement, he did involve himself in the

9 -I

13 Repeal Association's campaign for self-government. How­ expressed his regret at separating from O'Connell • And ever, the statement does provide us with an insight into at the Great Meeting of Seceders held on 2 December he the attitudes with which Haughton entered the political once again gave O'Connell credit for the good he had 14 sphere. It is to this question-how these attitudes shaped rendered Ireland • the role James Haughton played in nationalist politics It was hoped that a reconciliation of the two groups in the 1840's, and later on, that the remainder of this would come as a result of the December Great Meeting. study is directed. Haughton, in fact, sketched 'A basis of reunion between In 1840 Haughton joined the Loyal National Repeal Old Ireland and Young Ireland parties,' alluing to more Association, believing in the right of self-government open and broader systems of management, and the exclus­ achieved through the constitutional policy of peaceful ion of religious topics. A meeting of reconciliation arrang­ agitation. There seemed a chance that the Repeal move­ ed with O'Connell on 15 December, at which Haughton, ment might adopt more forceful means during the autumn along with Charles Gavan Duffy, John Dillon and Richard of 1843. At this time Haughton published a letter urging O'Gorman, Jr., was to be present. No result was forth­ the Irish people to banish all thought of physical force coming, and on 13 January 1847 the official organisation ideas. To his mind, Ireland wanted self-government to of the Young Ireland party, the Irish Confederation, was 15 carry out "enlightened principles of perfect freedom, civil formed • and religious, perfect trade-that taxation be direct­ Haughton was on the original Council of forty men and that constant employment should be offered to all which governed the Irish Confederation during its early who are willing to work."8 stages. However, his days as a Confederate leader were Whenever an opportunity arose, he tried to urge his short-liv~due mainly to his deeper convictions on the fellow Repealers to give weight of their opinion against subject of slavery. oppression abroad. As well, his anti-slavery sentiments As early as 1832, Haughton subscribed to the anti­ forced him into correspondence with the Repeal Associ­ slavery movement; and by 1838 he was one of the most ation, and with the Anti-Corn Law League, protesting energetic anti-slavery men in Dublin. In June of 1840 against accepting money from slave-traders in the southern he attended for the second time the World's Anti-Slavery states in America.9 But it was not until 1846 that he Convention in London as a: delegate of the Hibernian 16 became directly involved with the mechanics of Repeal Anti-Slavery Society • It was evident by now that his politics. strong feelings on this subject were to infringe on his ties This phase of his political activity is of particular of a more political nature. interest in view of Haughton's feelings for peace and As mentioned earlier, Haughton had used every available against slavery. During the summer of 1846 tensions opportunity at the Repeal Association,meetings to encour­ heightened between thetwo main elements within the age his fellow Repealers to voice their opinions against Repeal Association, the O'Connellites and the Young Ire­ oppression in other lands. And slavery as practised in landers. In July the group of more fervent nationalists America seemed to him the worst of all oppressions. He seceded from the Association in protest to the accusation therefore urged that it was not the Irishman's duty to that they were advocates of physical force as a means for adhere to a right principle, i.e. anti-slavery, but it was repealing the Union.10 Mr. Haughton was in London when their best policy to prove to the world that their own 11 the first serious dissensions arose • But upon return to outcry against oppression was honest and true, and not Dublin, he wrote to the committee of management and merely political manoeuvring. entreated the Associatmn to retrace its steps. In a letter In 1846 Haughton wrote an essay, 'The War in Mexico', he admitted to disapproving of the "warlike temper of which appeared in the Nation on 28 November as part 17 the Young Ireland party," and he repudiated the tone of of a series entitled "The Irish Party" • It was in this 11 defiance so frequently apparent in the N at~on • But he article that Haughton fanned the debate which was to admired the young men's "manliness and the independ­ continue until the spring of 1847 when he resigned from ence of journalism," and suggested that a split in the nationalist politics. Association was calculated to destroy all hopes of Repeal. · Arguing against the American war in Mexico as simply When this letter was not read at the next meeting of an extension of slavery, Haughton demanded that the the Association, he wrote "to withdraw from a society Nation should bring the fraud to the Irish public's view whose committee ofmanagement appear to have acted instead of justifying the aggression of the United States, in opposition to our principle of association." He had as it had done a few weeks earlier. His arguments rested hoped for a free discussion but saw the Association on the promise that if the Irish continued to extend "crushes its opponents . . . who have not exceeded the sympathies to oppressors elsewhere, they did not deserve 12 limits of fair discussion" • to succeed in reclaiming their own plundered rights. This His reasons for withdrawing are important as they reasoning was the basis of his frequent demands, already help us avoid aligning him too closely with the basic mentioned, that donations to the Repeal cause sent from sentiments of the Young lrelanders. History has painted slave-traders should be returned. This was hardly a philo­ this schism between Old Ireland and Young Ireland as sophy embraced by most of those nationalists of yet a something too well-defined, suggesting that all those who stronger strain than O'Connell. And as such it could hardly seceded were vehement anti-O'Connellites, and vice versa. find favour with them. This was hardly the case with James Haughton who had Not long after the Irish Confederation's formation the worked with O'Connell for many years to promote social Nation published a letter from Father John Kenyon in and political reforms. In fact on 15 September a second which he referred to Haughton's opinion on refusing con­ letter to the Association was published in which Haughton tributions from slave-holders. Father Kenyon hoped the

10 Confederation would not adopt this stance, and claimed did subscribe to a fund raised to aid the prisoners but this was one of the notable blunders of the Repeal Associ­ repeated his opinion that it was hopeless to obtain the 25 ation. To quote Father Kenyon: "Even if slave-eaters I'd Repeal of the Union by other than peaceful means • In accept them to repeal the abominable Union." He went October 1848 he confessed that while retaining national on to compare slave-holding as a sin with drunkenness. feelings, he now saw ". . . how much better the intellect His line of argument ran thus: The scriptures nowhere and energy of Irishmen may be employed in co-operating formally condemned slavery as a crime; the Church had with English liberals to attain practical reforms, than in never defined it as such; the Priests maintained com­ vain efforts to gain what so signally failed, both under munion with slave-holders; ergo contributions to the the leadership of constitutional and physical force Repeal­ Repeal cause from slave-holders cannot justifiably be ers."26 18 refused • These ideas certainly reinforced the attitudes This does not signify that James Haughton was inten­ of the Young Irelanders. The fact that these men could sitive to the Irish situation.On the contrary, in a private suggest that "the aid of the slave-holder might be hailed letter dated 3 and 5 April 1848 he wrote: as the first step towards a disposition, on his part, to 19 remove the revolting system of slavery in America" , "Recent events in Europe have proved the inefficiency testifies to their equally twisted reasoning. of soldiers for maintaining desperate authority. A deter­ In February 1847 Charles Gavan Duffy published an mined people cannot be forever awed into quietude. editorial note that there was to be no more to do with But the Irish are disunited, and so are weak."27 slavery, pro or con. The bugbears of famine, Whiggery and the Devil were enough to preoccupy Irishmen. His One might now be inclined to feel that even though attitude was that since the Carolina planters never de­ sensitive to the Irish plight, Haughton was too much a voured Ireland's substance nor drove away her sheep and loyalist to be "a good Irishman." This attitude does not oxen "for a spoil," there was no need for Irishmen to take into account his vehement personal commitment to 1 expend their energies, so urgently needed in Ireland, the object of world peace. But more importantly, it simpli­ 20 condemning the southern states • fies too readily the paradox eternally present in national­ But James Haughton was not to be deterred. He was istic fervor, and of which James Haughton was only too animate on the subject of slavery, and finally, in April well aware. of 1847, his confrontation with the majority opinion at Nationalism in its beginnings was a liberating force, a Confederate meeting caused him to resign as a member but it became evident in every system it pervaded that of the organisation. The confrontation and eventual re­ the "freedom" of the citizen became a freedom to do signation illustrates what Duffy so adequately described what his nation permitted to do. And in the case of I as the "(d)ifficulties of harmonising political dissent, when Ireland the nation was, in effect, the Irish Confederation. 21 it attempts to become political action" • What the nation demanded of its members was the kind The cause of Haughton's withdrawel from the Con­ of instant and unquestioning loyalty that could be depend­ federation was the illiberal and discourteous conduct of ed upon in its struggles with other nations. a meeting at which he was chairman. He felt it was his "Patriotism" took on forms that encouraged uncritical duty to object to an address to Mr. Dallas, a slave-holder adherence to the policies of one'S' own nation-and a and the Vice-President of the United States, thanking blunting of imagination as to the needs, rights, and atti­ hif for the part he took in presiding over the Great tudes of the people of other nations. Of all the men active 22 Washington Meeting for relief of Ireland • Haughton during the struggle for independence in the 1840's, James objected on the grounds that the address contained not Haughton most consistently voiced his objections to such one phrase condemnatory of slavery, and thus was blind patriotism. He understood that its only effect could " ... deeply injurious to the progress of (his) country, be to discourage linkages of understanding, sympathy and and directly lending to demoralise our people." The crowd co-operation with other nations; to encourage the kind refused to allow him to speak, and instead called for of exclusiveness that fosters suspicion and hostility. It is 23 cheers for America and Repeal • The Council of the Con­ strange, indeed, that his predictions for liberality in 1815 federation were somewhat more enlightened than the should ring so true in the Irish situation thirty years crowd at the meeting, but basically of the same attitude. later: Upon consideration Haughton decided to retire. His son gives as additional reasons that his father was at the same "How short is the duration of the liberality of any time expressing dissent from the too warlike tone of many new sect, while in its infancy and struggling for con­ of the speakers at several Confederate meetings and the verts, it is held out as a bait, but ali ttle time breaks "needless hostility against Englishmen-of whom a large the illusion; the demon BIGOTRY breaks out and exer­ liberal party were working hard for popular rights in cises her authority."28 24 which Ireland would share equally with England" • This last statement will surely cause a rise in readers only too Following his retirement from national politics, James familiar with Ireland's "equal share in the English pot"! Haughton turned his attention to practical reforms, attain­ Nevertheless, these were the sentiments of James Haugh­ able by alliance with English Liberals. For the next twenty ton, and therefore are necessarily mentioned. years he continued to speak out on subjects which varied His association with the Council of the Irish Confedera­ from slavery, the Chinese war, and the West India immi­ tion was the closest JamesHaughton came during his gration of coolies to the relation between employers and lifetime to active participation in national politics. After employed, the extension of suffrage, land reforms and the Young Irelanders' unsuccessful rising in July 1848, he various other remedial legislative measures.

11 r------

Although no longer active in politics per se, and totally which existed amongst the Irish nationalists were sur­ opposed to the· Fenians, Haughton was one of a deputa­ mounted James Haughton died in February of 1873. tion to the Lord Lieutenant set up in 1867 to ask for An appropriate concluding comment on James Haughton a commutation of the death sentences of the convicted would be that he lived in an era when it was difficult for Fenian prisoners. And again in early 1869 Haughton was a man to be true to his own convictions and a constant amongst those who led a movement for clemency for friend of his country. A common criticism of him was 29 the Fenian leaders still imprisoned. • that he cared not enough for his own people. However, In June of 1879 the renewed Irish national movement it should be noted that despite his resolve to co-operate started in Dublin, James Haughton's hopes for "Irish with the English Liberals, he had never been able to nationality, of the right of Irishmen to govern them­ banish from his mind the iniquities of the Union, the selves" were revived by the momentary apparent union long misgovernment of Ireland, and the right of people of discordant elements, and in his old age he felt re­ to choose for themselvt>s. What set him apart from his 30 joiced to see a new constitutional effort for Ireland • But contemporaries was his inability to reason "my country, before these hopes were realised or the antagonisms right or wrong."

FOOTNOTES 11 Haughton, op. cit., pp. 73 and 81. At the time Haughton was in London as a delegate of Dublin to the World's Temper­ 1 H. G. Schenk, The Mind of the European Romantics: An cnce Convention. essay in cultural history. 12 Ibid., p. 81. l3 Nation, 15 September, 1846. 2 Harry A. Overstreet, The Mature Mind, Chapter V, "A 14 Ibid., 5th December, 1846. Heritage of Contradictions", pp. 119-143. 15 Duffy, Four Years of Irish History, pp. 335-352. See also 3 Samuel Haughton, Memoir of James Haughton with ex­ Nowlan, The Politics of Repeal, pp. 113-114. tracts from his private and published letters, p. 2. Hereafter 16 Haughton, Memoir, p. 46. referred to as Memoir. 17 The series was meant to demonstrate that the Young lre­ 4 Haughton's commitment to the Temperance cause was such Janders were still deeply concerned about the question of that in 1850, with the consent of his brother, he gave up Irish nationalism and self-government, despite their split trade in the sale of malt and barley because it was used in with O'Connell. · making drink. He also gave up the use of cotton, replacing it 18 Nation, 30th January, 1847. by flannel, etc., until the final abolition of slavery in 19 Ibid., 4th September, 1847. America; and bought East India corn instead of Carolina 20 Ibid., 6th February, 1847. rice. Ibid., p. 19. 21 Duffy, op. cit., p. 460. 5 Ibid., p. 16. 22 Ibid., pp. 460-61. See also Haughton, Memoir, p. 85. 6 Ibid., p. 19. rn Minute Book of the Irish Confederation, R.I.A. MS 23H44, 7 Ibid., p. 58. 13th April, 1847. 8 From a letter published on 24th July, 1843. Ibid., p. ii4. 24 Nation, 10 April, 1847. 9 Ibid., p. 78. Haughton held this same opinion as to funds 25 Haughton, Memoir, p. 89. sent to the Irish Relief Commissions during the famine from 26 This was a letter to Lord William Fitzgerald. Ibid. the southern states in America. 27 Ibid., p. 92. 10 For details of the secession see Kevin B. Nowlan, The 28 Ibid., p. 11. Politics of Repeal, pp. 108,.110 and Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, 29 Ibid., pp. 208, 239. Four Years of Irish History 1845-1849, Chapter VI. 30 Ibid., p. 248.

OUR CHAIRMAN WRITES scraped the bottom of the barrel, this is where my only (Continued from page 8) fear lies. Of course the biggest project which it ever faced will come up we hope early in the New Year-that is the estab­ fore him. It may be said with a certain degree of pride lishment of a local Museum. This, if it does get off the that these people who were the architects and builders ground and become a reality, will test the mettle of the of the Society belonged to an era or a decade which is Society. We may be a little pessimistic about it, but passing. We who follow have a moral responsibility to when one considers and reflects on what Enniscorthy has consolidate their achievements: done without the help of any organised Society-just a "Who does the best his circumstances allows few dedicated people who made it their life's ambition Does Well-Acts nobly." and such a great success, there is then every hope for us Let us all resolve to do well and nobly for the sake here if we find and generate the necessary enthusiasm of those whose experience brought knowledge, integrity among our members to lay the foundation of this institu­ and an ever-growing reputation to give us hope, inspira­ tion so that it will, as the years pass, succeed and con­ tion and confidence for the future. tinue to expand and so make the effort worthy of the In connection with the final paragraph above, the Soc­ name of Carlow. iety is facing a challenge now as it celebrates its Silver This is my sincere hope for the future which is heart­ Jubilee. Will the members be able to continue with met­ ened by the fact that so many young people attended our hods which have built the Society to the pre-eminent lectures within the past couple of years. On their should­ position it holds today in Carlow? Is there sufficient mat­ ers will rest the future of the Society. Due to the splendid erial available in the line of manuscripts, history of the example given to them by past and present Committees Castles, Abbeys, stately houses and places of interest I have no doubt whatsoever that· it will continue on to in our area? It is no secret that the Society has nearly celebrate its Golden Jubilee.

12 Local Folklore

MISS M. T. KELLY

WHAT IS Folklore. The dictionary tells us that Folklore side Oak Park. The site is at the 9th green on the Golf is the study of Antiquities embracing everything relating Links. The road leading to the golf club is still known to ancient observences and customs to the beliefs and as the Friary Lane and up to some years ago the en­ traditions handed down to the common people. trance was known as the Friary Gate. The hill over which It was for these old ways of life that our forefathers players walk was known as Camp Hill. Tradition tells fought and died. Local tradition is the back-bone of our us that an army of Irish Soldiers camped here in early history. The fabric of Irish Rural life is today, as in the Christian times. A Penal Cross dated 1722, probably past, beset by many enemies pushing back the home­ one of the most beautiful to be found in Ireland, be­ spun culture of the countryside; the ancient courtisies, longed to a family in this locality. It was used to teach and traditional ways of life, tend to disappear before the Catechism. They were all made of wood, mostly bog-oak spirit of the present age. as it was the easiest material to work on, with the sim - The pattern of our local life is rapidily changing be­ pie tools available. The cross is now preserved in Knock­ cause change is the lot of us all, where was once peace beg Museum. ful green fields, new housing estates are springing up. In Kernanstown is the largest Cromlech (or Dolmen) The "Big House" around which a certain fuedal system in Western Europe. The Cap Stone weighs over 89 tons, prevailed is slowly disappearing from the Irish Landscape. although the Cromlech group at Acaun Bridge is con­ The years have a way of passing by, and we should sidered the finest. collect all the data we can, before it is lost to us for­ For lighting the local people had "rush lights", tallow ever. There are few amongst us who cannot recall hear­ and dip candles; some had only fire light. The rush ing tales which were told in our own locality. No mat­ light was made from long green rushes, peeled and ter how short the story, it may be a worthwhile contri­ steepd in mutton fat or tallow, ccmtained in a trough bution to our local folklore. called a "grisset.' It was then left to cool. One stepping In this area there are many folklore traditions em­ made a rush light, but if it was decided to make a bracing a wide variety of subjects. Many place names candle for special occasions like Christmas and Easter, have been changed over the years, our locality was noted a few strands of cotton thread were joined for a wick, for the number of place names changed. Landed propriet­ steeped and resteeped, until it was sufficiently thick to ors on acquiring forfeited properties substituted a more be called a candle. The rush light holder is an interest­ English name for their estates, Ballykernon, Cargan ing relic of the past, and often a high testomony of or Kernanstown became Brownes Hill. The present name the skill of the local blacksmith who made it. is said to have gradually come into use at the time the The rush light is associatd with all the old home in­ main approach to the Mansion was an old public road dustries. They were used at the spinning-wheel and loom. (It was closed to the public later). The road was used Shoe-makers and other tradesmen had to work by their by the Castlecomer coal carters, who half-way up the light in the dusk. The old Irish Scholars also burned steep incline would stop and rest their horses under the the midnight rush light, writing and illuminating the old heavy loads of coal with the frequent remark, "Arra bad manuscripts. cess to Ould Brownes-Hill." Thus in course of time the Folklore is also associated with Bees. "Telling the name came into general use. The road is again a public Bees" it was called. They were told of important hap­ road. Painstown was renamed Oak Park when acquired penings in a family-both sad and happy. Death and by the Bruens, Ballynakelly changed to Burton Hall and marriage, a member of the family leaving home to go to Ballyfulland or Pollardstown was renamed "Pollacton". America or Australia, perhaps never to return. Friday In this area, there are several "Mass Paths" and "rights was considered a lucky day to move to a new home or of way", these were used by the local people as their farm, or to open a business premises. It still is. only means of reaching on foot the main or coach road. There were also cures for the various ills of man and Before the appointment of Co. Surveyors only main roads beast. One family had a homemade ointment to heal and roads leading to gentlemen's estates were maintain­ burns and scalds, another had a plaster. A spring tonic to ed by Grand Jury presentments. A relict of the past in purify the blood was made from Sulphur, Cream of Tar- our locality is the site of a Small Franciscan Friary in- (Continued on page 23)

13

j' -'

A year in the life of a town

MARY SMYTH

I OFTEN wonder if it is a symptom of advancing years stands on the site of the Old Union on Kilkenny Road. when one makes the melancholy discovery that the ac­ If this begins to sound like a game of musical chairs, quisition of some new amenity in the town is sure to be the analogy goes further. The Co. Library in spite of its attended by the loss or defacement of a scene one has importance to the community has always seemed to be come to care for. The immediate cause of this reflection the poor relation in our civic and social life. Poorly and is the picture presented in the golden days of this St. inadequately housed it has still managed over the years Martin's summer by the ravaged lawns of St. Dympna's to give us the best possible service in the most difficult as the earth-movers go to work in preparation for the conditions. But the hope of better things to come was building of a new Maternity Hospital. That there is a real always there-some day we should have the ideal lib­ need for the hospital is not in doubt, but to many it will rary, or at least more spacious premises. This hope be­ not compensate for the trees, the quiet paths and the gan to materialise when it appeared that the Technical grass, which will have to go to make it possible. Simil­ School would soon be vacated. But the hope died, and a arly, in order to acquire a swimming pool it was neces­ new campaign is now mounted. sary to sacrifice an extremely attractive little park, the For this it is porposed that we sacrifice our Town shrunken remains of which now look uncared for and Hall auditorium. Needless to say the proposal has met abandoned. There are many examples of this kind of.pro­ with a barrage of opposition from ev:ery quarter, not least gress which could be referred to, and which are all jus­ from the traditionalists like ourselves who remember it tified in the name of town planning, but the so-called as the scene of our first introduction in the old days, to conservative must be allowed a small sigh for some of Shakespeare and Gilbert & Sullivan-as. well as our only the things that are gone. glimpse of theatre outside school productions. The ques­ On the other hand it is fair to comment on what can tion of this transfer is still under consideration, but if only be described as the amount of slum clearance which vox populi carries any weight at all the outcome should has taken place during the year. In Accommodation never be in doubt. Perhaps another shuffle of the deck Rd., and Lower Green Lane most of the old houses have could be arranged. been levelled, opening a wide vista to Shamrock Square. Our oldest institution, Carlow College began its 178th This will provide for a new arterial road to take some academic year this September under a new President, of the Dublin-Kilkenny traffic. Here too stands the V. Rev. Fr. P. J. Brophy, to whom as a former Chairman new Fire Station opened in June and costing £10,000. of Old Carlow Society, we extend congratulations and This is the nucleus of a proposed municipal centre and good wishes. It is interesting to recall the long line of will eventually be literally the most central point as the Presidents which stretches from Dean Staunton in 1793 town expands in the Tullow direction. down to Fr. Brophy in 1971, who have given to the Col­ Further down town, the last remains of Bridewell Lane, lege a name and identity known in practically every part fabled home of football and song have disappeared. It of the world. is now more an effort of the imagination than of the Now residing in the College' since his retirement memory to reconstruct the older scene, and when the from parish work is Fr. Swayne, long known to us as whole area has been levelled and established as a car park, a writer and historian. May we hope that the astonish­ a small part of Carlow will have passed into history. ing output of his hard-worked parochial days will be ex­ At Hanover a · new · wide bridge has been built at a ceeded by that to be produced within the seclusion and cost of £ 11,000 to take the proposed arterial route peace of the College walls. through the town. This project is expected to be In these days of tragic· happenings in the North one completed in two years time. By then it is possible that wonders if we have for too long been lacking in the sim­ the new Co. Council offices to be located in the field ple matter of cross-border friendship. We seem to have .behind the present building in Athy Rd. will have been left rapproachment to the politid~ns, forgetting the bond ., . . . . ) built. In the meantime and while awaiting these new of­ of brotherhood which should exist between all people~ fices the Co. Engineer and his staff are vacating their of the four green fields. Twice this year howe~e'r th~ quarters in the Old Union and hopirig to occupy the Tech­ hand o'f frieridslfip reached out from the North. In March nicalhSchools in Dublin St. This move is made possible the first voluntary Community' Inforination' dntre in by the fact that· a b~and-new Technical School now Ireland was ·op~riM in Carlow as iii result of an original

14 suggestion by Muintir na Tire. In addition to having the are many things for which she could be praised, but Car­ help of the Citizens' Advice Bureau of Great Brit­ low owes the greatest thanks to her for the establish­ ain in setting it up, assistance came too from the Belfast ment of what might be called a records office in mini­ Bureau, two of whose supervisors had personal inter­ ature. Long before the birth of the Old Carlow Society, of views with, and highly commended the voluntary staff which she was a founder member, she had already be­ of the Carlow Centre. In the same month, educational gun to collect the literature of our region, much of and road safety personnel from Belfast visited Carlow to it now .quite unobtainable, and by her vision and fore­ see at first hand the junior traffic warden system in op­ sight has given to us a kind of civic identity. In the year eration at the C.B.S. May the day be not far distant when of her retirement it is fitting to express our gratitude our own hands can be extended in sympathy and ser­ for that, and to wish her well in the coming years, and vice. a fruitful continuance of her literary activities. Despite the lowering of its chimney by 100 feet the us­ A dreadful fate was predicted in the near future for ual vigorous camapign is at present in progress at the the houses in Dublin St. by a Councillor who said that Sugar Factory. But at the sister plant, Erin Foods, the they would fall if heavy traffic continued to crash news is not so good. Due to many unforeseen factors through the area as it does at present. Since the north­ principally on the sales end, it appears that redund­ ern end of the street developed ominous cracks and had ancy and reduction of contracts in the coming season are to have a repair operation in December it seems that the unavoided. This will of course cause repercussions in fear has some foundation. Re-routing of such traffic-a every sector of the community, and we must hope that consummation devoutly to be wished for- may take the recession is only for a period. place next year, to the relief of our ear-drums and the In August one of Carlow's oldest industries, Corcoran pressures on those ancient houses. s & Co. completed a merger with the firm of O'Brien & Last year at a Carlow meeting Brendan Corish predic­ .t Co., Clonmel. Both firms will continue production as ted that a General Election was not far away. That did s before-in fact, as such amalgamations often result in de­ not happen, but when it does take place, Carlow voters I· velopment all round, might we hope that dynamic soft­ will have a new sense of togetherness-we are all to fore­ drink research will come up with something new-say, gahter in one polling station ,the position of which is ti non-alcoholic Vodka or somesuch. not yet decided. This is instead of the 13 stations of a Cox's Lane is the setting for a busy shoe factory, heretofore-what a gathering it should be! which has been quietly doing pusiness for a couple of It is inevitable that 1971 will go down in history as rn years and now turns out about 1000 pairs a week. Round the Year of the Dump. The saga is too long to be de­ et the corner on the Track is the Carlow Shoe Company tailed here, but the first faint rumble of its overture was st which employs about 50 workers. Into these two factories. heard in January, grew in strength during the spring it were absorbed some of the employees of Governey's and burst into crescendo in July. During this time the to factory, which incidentally is now engaged in the produc­ harassed engineers and Council tried desperately to cope Jy tion of other leather goods. with an insoluble problem-each time a new site was IS· Final mention in this economic section goes to fhe suggested a wave of protest engulfed them. For nine I if first factory set up on the Industrial Estate on the Loop weeks no bins were emptied and the piles of rubbish grew. 1Jd Road. It is the Forest Knitwear Factory, owned by Mr. At last when hope seemed dead there came a neighbourly ck and Mrs. Sean Phelan, which is growing from small be­ gesture which we remember with thanks. Laois Co. ginnings to what we hope will be a notable success story. Council offered us the hospitality of their dump "for a Ith An innovation in youth holidays took place here during few months". Operation Bin Lift went into action once bt, the summer when 2 batches of nearly 100 girls each, a week and at a cost of £700 a time the bins were empty ian from schools in Waterford, spent a week at St. Leo's Col­ at last and our morale rose accordingly. The battle for a Ind lege. It has always seemed a waste that the superb fac­ fixed site raged on until September and was only resolved 'of ilties for filling children's free time which such schools finally when a Solomon, in the shape of the Minister for t93 can afford should be idle for the best months of the year, Local Government gave a decision in our favour and Car­ :01- but in this case they were amply availed of. In addition, low's dump problem was at an end for a while. The new (art there were the added attractions of the Swimming Pool venue is on land at Grange Castle, Mageney. The exper­ I and the Youth Centre, all of which provided ample holi­ ience, if it has any virtue at all, has taught us to apprec­ fent day entertainment. The Convent community and the or­ iate one of those things we are in.dined to. take for grant- , as ganisers and helpers of this enlightened move (includ­ ed. , ' ing priests, nurses, students and at least one member At Christmas the noble facade of the Courthouse was fsh- . ' . r·n , ,, ex- of the Civic Guards) who made it possible, should be the background to. (!Ur first town Crib. Its position alon~. 1 well content with its success. especially wh~ri' flocii-Iit at night, rpade it deservedly and ., ' ' • . ' . . . • jJ l . .. · The important role of the library in the cultural life of conspiciotis - a gentle gesture agauist the materialism one any society cannot be over-rated, and the measure of it~ with which the· season seems· tO be su~tounded. lim- success in the widening of people's horizons and in . the In the.. New Yea~ The Cathedral· acqui}ed a riew set of ~ave refining of ·their mind and taste must be· relat~cl tb' the StltiQ~S, of'tp.e '.cross'. the wtii"k of '6e~,ig~ CoHe:v'. ~-RA; lond personal standards of the librarian. Since Carlow first Visuahy. 'mori(rixplidt 'and light~t. in torte than t:hgse ~e lpiek acquired a County Library, we, the subscribers, have been gte':' up ~th. lhe .Paint~ngs give a:'.h~\'\ '4imen~ion to I I the more than fortunate in having as Librarian, .Misr Iona the~ 2hlirclf an,d c 1ia1e,, b'Iended well with their eriviron~ ~~nt;O: ·ii' i L~"·' 'W.. il~(''·T .. : ,• I .G; .: i ·1· ,.' iar~~ Macleod, whose conception of her task stretched far be­ e m fop!;i the mere ordering and cataloging of books. There ···. iJ~a,µi. ~ r~P\~~e1~(~i olcl. Jh~f/ year'. when ., t~~ ' "J. '. : ~i:;:~~~w· ginal 1,5 !JJ Munster & Leinster Bank building in Tullow St. fell in and to Veronica Webster, Lock House, Graiguecullen for a single day to the demolition squad and revealed the one on "Carlow and the Castle". This essay won in ad­ new-style bank which had been built behind it. In the dition the plaque for the best overall effort. It was a forecourt now stands an interesting statuary fountain by pleasure to listen to the work of these young girls, and Garry Trimble. still more a matter of some satisfaction to those who One is slightly alarmed at the statement of the C.E.O. care, that the remembrance of things past does hold same at a meeting of the Vocational Committee recently that attraction for the up-and-coming generation. Congra­ the new Technical School "won't be very beautiful". This, tulations to all competitors-they convince us we should we know, is due to lack of money and limitation of not be short of social historians in the days to come. grants, but the fact remains that beauty is in short sup­ In accordance with the usual practice in these pages, ply especially in our housing estates. It strikes the sim­ the annual rise in the Urban Rate must alas, be record­ ple observer that nature has provided an artless and most ed. It now stands at £5, an increase of 55 N.P. effective beautifier, in the shape of trees. That being so, The problem of itinerants has not been forgotten dur­ one must congratulate the residents of Rathnapish on ing the year. In addition to the continual work being their enlightened 5 year plan to embellish their area by done for them by a hard-working group of interested peo­ the systematic planting of trees, and the Graiguecullen ple, the Urban Council has provided 3 "tigeens" on a Residents' Association on their ambitious projects for tarmac site at Pollerton Road, with a paddock for their the improvement of their village, again including trees. animals.This means for transients a temporary reprieve Thanks to our peripheral areas we may yet again earn from "the reek of the smoke, the cold of the floor," and the flattering if incredible tribute paid to Carlow by an an introduction to the concept of a settled home. American traveller recently-"one of the prettiest little The a1}Pfflfttment of Mrs. Carmel McDonnell as Pre­ towns we've seen." sident of Carlow Vincent de Paul Conference came as no This year Old Carlow Society sustained the loss of many great surprise to those who already knew of her work well-known members. Harry Fennell, its Chairman for sev­ in sociological affairs. Its significance lies in the fact that eral years, entertaining lecturer and writer, and unfail­ she is the first woman in Ireland to hold surh a posi­ ing spring of local history, passed away. His book on tion. It is a pleasure to congratulate her and Carlow on St. Mary's Church as well as his many published pap­ this distinction. ers, will stand as a memorial of his services to the Soc­ Meanwhile, the Youth Club, foster child "t>f the St. Vin­ iety. cent de Paul goes from strength to strength. Its outward The death of Msgr. Miller in April took from us an­ manifestation as far as the public is concerned is its other distinguished historian, and first chairman of O.C.S. splendid military-type band compos~d of about 40 mem­ Though he left Carlow 24 years ago he never lost COQ­ bers, who have surprised and delighted us on many oc­ tact with the town, whose history he had enshrined in casions. Long ago Carlow had a reputation for its bands, his "Barrow Valley" booklets. but as they passed on, we were left with only a memory June marked the passing of John Ellis, a founder of their music. This Youth Club Band is a worthy suc­ member of the Society to the success of which he lar­ cessor, bidding fair to surpass them all. gely contributed. His wide-ranging reminiscences and his It is in the nature of things that the majority of soc­ amazing memory were the basis of many of his most ieties have a limited expectation of life-many of them interesting papers. fail to fulfil the promise of their early years. But it is In June also we lost Miss Alice Tracey, an indefatigable not in any spirit of self-congratulation that we are proud researcher and writer. Although not a native, she was to celebrate this year the Silver Jubilee of the Old Car­ the embodiment of Carlow past, and devoted her absorb­ low Society-we believe that its survival is due to a fac­ ing interest in history to the service of her adopted tor common to all people, an interest in the past of their town. country and particularly in that of their own region. In one year we have lost four valuable and esteemed "The real history of Ireland will never be written until members, and they have left us the poorer for their the social history of each district is known", wrote L. D. going. Bergin in the 1st issue of Carloviana 25 years ago. Some years ago the Junior Chamber of Commerce in­ But conservation must go hand in hand with discovery, augurated an award called Young Person of the Year. and the second aim of the Society has been to see the Champion athlete, 15 year old Beatrice Lambers was past preserved in some tangible way. Up to now, this this year's obvious choice. Holder of 5 Irish titles, and has been expressed only in the written word, but as the first Carlow girl to run for Ireland, she well deserv­ we go forward towards our half century, our objective ed the title, and the citation she received later in the must now be the establishment of a folk museum where year from the Urban Council. Both bodies only affirmed the life of the region in the past can be preserved in its the pride of all Carlow in her achievements. boundless variety. Though the future is not what it used The first year of the Donal Godfrey Memorial Prize was to be, the past begins today, and goes back as far as marked by a good entry of essays. Lily O'Neill of we can reach. We must try to save even part of it-only in Browneshill Rd., and Jean Comerford of Bestfield, won this way can we be said to have made anything of our 1st prizes in their respective age groups. Lily wrote of 25 years existence. "Pollacton House and its owners", and Jean's was en­ titled "I visited Braganza". Second prizes went to Mary White, Tullow St. for a paper on "St. Clare's Church" 30th Oct. 1971.

16 THE

Where was it? - on the corner of Tullow Street and Burrin Street

Duckett's Grove, that fine architectural masterpiece in all its splendour

{.. Art MacMurrough and Richard II. BALLYGOREY--A VANISHED TOWNLAND

BY EDWARD O'TOOLE

(Publication by kind permission of Miss K. O'Toole, Rathvilly)

HISTORIANS tell us that King Henry II landed at Crook, Diarmuid Mac Murrough had no legitimate male issue, but a little village below Waterford, on the 18th October, A.D., he had three natural sons, Enna, from whom it is said the 1171, with many of his Nobles, 1,100 Knights and Men-at­ Mac Kenaait. are descended; Art, who was slain at Athlone Arms, and numerous common soldiers and attendants, making by King Roderic O'Connor, A.D., 1170; and Domhnall in all an army of 10,000 fighting men. Most of the Irish Cavanach, slain, A.D., 1175 (Genealogy of Hy Kinsellagh princes and chiefs saw that it would be impossible, in the then Loco Patriciana Shearman). These men were styled "princes': divided state of the country, to resist such a force, and they even in their father's time. According to O'Donovan, made their submission to Henry. "Domhnall Cavanagh was so named from having Leen foster­ He rewarded his favourites and followers by granting them ed by the Comharba or ecclesiastical successor of St. Cavan,

l 0 rge tracts of the country, with complete disregard of the at Kilcavan near Gorey, in Oden, in the present County of rights of the native Irish. Wexford. The agnomen of this Domhriall has been adopted He granted Leinster, with the exception of Dublin and some for many centuries as a surname by his descendants, a practice other maritime towns, to Strongbow, who had already acquired very unusual among Irish families." (Introduction to Topo­ a quasi-claim to the province by marrying Eva, the daughter graphical Poems of O'Dugan and O'Hearns, p.18). The of Di1rmuid Mac Murrough. This claim was not acknowledged prejudiced Ryan admits that "his descendants were elected by the Irish as it was not in accordance with the law of Kings of Leinster by the Irish, and were acknowledged by Tanistry. the English power under the title of Mac Murrough until the Strongbow ~nd Eva had only one child, Isabella, who time of King Henry VIII." In explanation of this title married William, Earl of Pembroke, who was created Earl O'Donovan has the following note (363) "Mac Marchadha, Marshall of Ireland. They had five sons and five daughters; i.e., Murchardides, or descendants of Murchadh, surnamed the sons died without,Msue and we are only concerned with Maolnambo, King of Leinster, anglicised Mac Murrough." the two eldest Counties, and King twice proved his illegitimacy in order to make good her own John, in 1210 A.D., had created 12 counties (of which ~ar­ title to Leinster. This could avail her nothing, as, under the low and Wexford were two) in the portion of Ireland subject Brehon laws consanguinity was sufficient to establish Donald's to him. The Irish retained their own territorial divisions, and claim, and illegitimacy was not 'a disqualification. we may regard Carlow and Wexford as roughly coinciding with We see then that while the nominal ownerships of Counties Hy I<.insellagh, the territory of the Mac Murroughs. Carlow and Wexford were vested in the descendants of Eva Maud, eldest daughter of Earl William, was married to the real owners were never dispossessed and the Mac Mur-­ Hugh le Bigod, Earl of Norfolk and Earl Marshall of England. roughs, the descendants of Donald, continued through an un­ Her eldest son, Roger le Bigod, Earl of Norfolk and Lord of broken line to govern Hy Kinsellagh, and to be recognised as Carlow, conveyed Carlow to the Crown. It was afterwards Kings of Leinster. granted by King Edward I, to his son, Thomas de Brother­ The English Kings, who succeeded Henry II, were engrossed ton from whom the lordship and County of Carlow descended with the Crus:ides, and with domestic and Continental wars; thr~ugh the families of Howard, Dukes of N?rfolk, ":ho the Anglo-Irish families had become more Irish than the Irish forfeited it by reason of the Statute of Absentees m the reign themselves, and in consequence the English power in Leinster of Henry VIII. had sunk so low that King Edward III, in 1335 "took the Joan, the second daughter, to whom the Co~nty Wexford humiliating but polite step of paying a tribute to Maurice, had been allotted, was married to the Lord Guarin de Mount­ the Mac Murrough, of eighty marks a year for his toleration chensey, the richest baron in England. of the Pale." This "tribute" became well known afterwards It was very easy for the Anglo-Norman monarchs, by a by the name of "Black Rent, and it has been described by scratch of the pen, to allocate wide areas ~f the land of Ire­ some Anglo-Irish writers as a "Pension." During the reign of land to their supporters, but it was not quite s~ easy_ for the this king (Edward Ill) the Pale had been reduced to very grantees to enter into possession. Some of the Insh Kmgs and slender limits, and in 1388, "it did not extend beyond Bray on Chieftains may have been defeated, but they were not s~b­ the south, and on the north further than Drogheda." dued and the lands momentarily granted to the great English In 1377 Art Kavanagh (of Polmonty), King of Leinster, pala;inates remained in the almost undisturbed possession of died. It is said of him that:- "He had raised up his dynasty the Irish Clansmen. and standard to a great eminence. This he had done in the

18 very midst of his enemies. He had reduced the revenues of celebrated bridge-builder, in 1320, and Darcy McGee assumes his enemies of the English settlement to ten thousand pounds. that "no tolls were paid to the Abbot of Leighlin for keeping He had fixed his Allies as his own family well in the land." the bridge and his own fidelity whole and entire." Professor Art was succeeded by his son, Art Oge, then in his 20th Curtis continues: "Crossing the bridge the King planned out year. The descent of Art Oge, the renowned King Art Mac a series of far-reaching raids and encircling movements against Murrough, from Diarmuid Mac Murrough was given as fol­ Mac Murrough and his urraghts, who had now fallen back lows by Sir William Betham, Ulster King of Arms, in 1817 :- into their strongholds in the heavily wooded and hilly country "Dermot Mac Murrough, King of Leinster. which lay between the Barrow and the Blackstairs and the Donnell Caomhen, i.e., handsome 'Mac Murrough, natural Mount Leinster range ... It is clear that Richard, with the son of Dermot Mac Murrough-fifty eighth King of main force, marched south from Leighlin to the neighbourhood Leinster. of Borris, and perhaps as far as the Polmounty stream at the Donnell Oge Kavanagh, alias Mac Murrough, King of southern extremity of County Carlow. Meanwhile, the Earl of Leinster. Rutland and Cork, the Earl of Not~bam, who was Earl Art Mac Murrough, slain at Arklow, 1281; Murtagh Kav­ Marshall, and titular lord of Carlow, Sir Thomas Percy, Sir anagh Mac Murrough, slain at Arklow, 1281. John Beaumont, and others made sweeping raids against Mac Murrough, son of Murtagh, King of Leinster, summoned to Murrough and his men. In these "journeys" the Blackstairs attend King Edward II, against the Scots, 1314. Mountains were crossed and the Duffrey was raided as well Art Kavanagh of Poll an ·Montigh, i.e., the turf pits. as the Irish countries beyond the Burren River, the chief suf­ Art Oge Kavanagh of Polmonty and Borris, !drone." ferers being the O'Nolans of Forth, and other local septs. The warfare was a horrible one, a series of running fights, in Under date A.D. 1417, the date of his death, the "Four which the ill-armed Irish were terribly punished by the Masters" refer to Art thus: "Art Cavanagh, King of Leinster, English archers, and then ridden down by the cavalry. Villages son of Art, son of Murtagh, son of Maurice, Lord of Leinster, were burned wholesale, and we must note that while the a man who defended his throne against the English and Irish, villages were only composed of wooden houses, easily fired, from the age of sixteen to his sixtieth year, a man distinguished the wealth of the country must have been enormous. If we for his hospitality, knowledge and feats of arms, a man full of can trust the figures, some 14,000 cattle (sheep, cows and prosperity and loyalty, a founder of churches and monasteries horses) were swept off by the raiders from the parts traversed. by his bounty and contributions, died, after having been forty­ two years in the government of Leinster, on the 7th day after Before such a vigorous combination of foraging, fighting, Christmas; some state that it was by drinking a poisonous draft, burning and killing on the part of an immense force, Mac which a woman gave him at Ros Mac Truin, and also to Murrough and his urraghts were at last fain to submit ... O'Doran, the Brehon of Leinster that both died." After a period of such fighting, Art Mac Murrough, Gerald In the same year (1377) that Art had succeeded to the O'Byrne, Felim (?) O'Toole, Donal O'Nolan and his son Kingship of Leinster, King Richard II, was crowned King of Shane submitted unreservedly to the king, and swore on the England, but, as he was then a minor, he was under the famous 'Baculum Jesu', or 'Staff of St. Patrick' (called in the regency of his three uncles for twelve years. In 1389, being in Letters the_ Cross of Dublin) to be faithful subjects . . . Art his 23rd year, he demanded to reign alone, and he acquired Mac Murro.ugh and his vassals on January 7th, at Tullow, and a large measure of popularity during the earlier years of his at Ballygorey on February 16th, undertook with all their fight­ reign. It is said of him that: "He commanded the esteem of ing men to quit the whole land of Leinster and seek new lands, many orders of men until his sceptre hand was stained with if necessary by conquest, in other parts of Ireland. This the blood of murdered kinsmen, and his coffers inflated with province, which Richard glowingly eulogises as' 'of all others wrongly gotten gold." the most famous, fair and fertile, in woods, pastures, meadows, arable lands, and rivers the most beautiful, pleasant and Historians of that period tell us that English power in delightful that one could find in all the land of our rebels in Ireland was at a very low ebb, that the country had become Ireland,' could now, he fondly hoped, be re-colonised with a perpetual drain on the royal exchequer, that the greater num­ new English, and taken out of the hands of "Irish enemies'' ber of the proprietors of land in the Pale continued to reside and "Irish rebels." in England, and that the power and daring of the Irish septs were daily increasing. Richard resolved to come to Ireland Darcy McGee, the careful and usually accurate biographer with an overwhelming force in the hope that he would there­ of Art Mac Murrough, denies that the King of Leinster sub­ by overawe the whole country into submission and quietness. mitted to Richard. "Mowbray, the Earl Marshall,' he states, "having sent out heralds to proclaim that he came to make He landed at Waterford on the 2nd October, 1394, with an a truce and to invite the attendance of the Chiefs of Leinster, army of 4,000 Men-at-Arms and 30,000 archers. This was he encamped in the plain at Ballygorey, where King Art, the largest force which had ever been brought to the shores with Malachi, his uncle, Rory Oge O'Moore, Donald O'Nolan, of Ireland, and was conveyed from Bristol to Waterford in O'Byrne, Mac David, More and other Chieftains were as­ 200 ships. sembled to hear his message and consider his terms, which When Art was informed of Richard's arrival in Waterford were, "th,t they before the first Sunday of Lent would sur­ he swept down on New Ross, which was then a flourishing, render to the King the full possession of all their lands, tene­ strongly-walled English settlement, at which, possibly, Richard ments, castles, woods and forts, which by them and all others might have encamped, and made a crossing of the Barrow. of the Kinsellas, their companions, men, or adherents, late Art and his followers burst open the gates of the town, and were occupied within the province of Leinster ... King Art according to the Four Masters (A.D. 1394) "burnt it with its refused to treat on these terms, declaring that if he made terms houses and castles, and carried away gold, silver and hostages." ~t all, it should be with the King and not with the Lord As Richard marched north from Waterford, Art harassed the Marshal, and that instead of yielding his own lands, his wife's English army, "attacking them from woods and bogs, after his patrimony of Kildare should be restored. This broke up the usual skilful fashion, and cutting off great numbers." Conference, and Mowbray returned to his master." It is by no means easy to find an accurate or authentic ac­ Rev. P. L. O'Toole supports McGee's point of view in his count of Richard's first campaign in Ireland, but Professor "History of the Clan O'Toole and other Leinster Septs." Edmund Curtis, T.C.D., was so fortunate recently (1927) as Ryan describing the "submission" writes:- "An open to find in the Library of All Souls' College, Oxford, copies field at Ballygorey, near Carlow, was the place selected for of letters written by Richard during the campaign in which this purpose (i.e., to receive the homage and oaths of fidelity he describes the operations day by day. Summarising the of the Chiefs), when 'Malachias O'Morrough, Arthur Mac letters, Professor Curtis says: - "Richard and his army cross­ Morrough, Gerald O'Byrne, Donald O'Nolan and others, ed the Suir on Monday, October 19th (1394), and made swore fealty before the Earl Marshal, laying aside their girdles, towards the Nore at Jerpoint, at which famous Abbey he skeins, and caps, and falling on bended knee." Will it be rested . . . From thence he marched to the Barrow, which believed that Ryan-the historian (sic) of the County Carlow he crossed at the natural ford and strong fortified town of -who lavishes space on the unsuccessful Rebellion of 1 798, Leighlin Bridge." The bridge over the Barrow at Leighlin was and particularly on any incident which might reflect discredit erected by Maurice Jakes, Canon of Kildare Cathedral, a on the Insurgents-satisfies himself by merely twice mention-

19 ing Art Mac Murrough to whom he contemptuously refers as Salisbury, Treasurer of England, to be enrolled m the Ex­ "Chief of the Kavanaghs," a man who so heroically defended chequer Court, and s1fely kept in the Treasury." his little kingdom for a period of forty years, a man of whom It may be well to give here the reference to Art by his McGee writes : - "Standing alone and taken merely as a his­ contemporary Giolla na Naomh O'Huirhrin. O'Huidhrin's torical personage of that age unconnected with Ireland, his celebrated Topographical Poem TUILE FEASA AR EIREANN eminence is indisputable. The length of his resistancy to a OIG. (An addition of knowledge on Sacred Erin) was trans­ superior numerical power, its collateral importance in the lated and noted by John O'Donovan, and published by the kingdom of the enemy, its direct consequences in his own, Irish Texts Society in 1862. O'Huidhrin "died an old man" his fame among the Irish writers down even to Elizabeth's in the year 1420. He thus refers to Art and his territory:- time, all mark him for place in the category of the most heroic "Let us give first place from the chiefs of the Gaoidhil, spirits of the west in the same age." To the Kings of the race of Cathaoir; That Art did submit there can be no doubt whatever, (not­ Let us mention separately in the east of the country, withstanding McGee's denial) judging by the letter of King Each one of them over his patrimony. Richard to the Archbishop of York, Chancellor of England. "Chief King of Nas, tree of the fort, "On Wednesday," he writes, "we were lodged there (Laverne) Lord of Leinster is Mac Murchadha; in the lands of one, Anolan (O'Nolan) then our adversary, who He holds (the sovereignty of) the province in his fair hand, with Schane, his eldest son, came to make obeisance to us, The Charter of the lands is under the hero.'' bare-headed, disarmed, their girdles undone, holding their swords by the points, with the pommels erect, and put them­ selves unreservedly at our mercy without any conditions. In Could we reconstruct the scene at Ballygorey on that mem­ like manner there came humbly to obey us, to surrender and orable February 16th, 1395, the sight would indeed be novel submit themselves the said Mac Murrough and three other and imposing. It was the first time that the Norman and Captains, kneeling and acting in the aforesaid manner of the Celt had confronted each other under similar conditions. whom we took oath on the Cross of Dublin, to l:ie to us hith­ On the one side, most probably facing south to Mac Mur­ ful and loyal subjects." One must be given reason to doubt rough's country, were Mowbray and his attendant Knights that Art "came humbly to obey." and Squires in all the panoply of war and blazonry of heraldry, Writing of this episode Gwynne says:- "Nevertheless so dear to Richard and his entourage, added to and embel­ Richard's Army produced at least an appearance of general lished by the magnificent robes of the Church dignitaries "of submission ... Art Mac Murrough, 'at the solicitation of the the English establishments," with the westering sun flashing English and Irish of Leinster' did likewise, that it was per­ on the armour of the Knights and Men-at-Arms. On the suaded to come to Richard's headquarters and tender other side with their backs to the Blackstairs Mountains and I allegiance." "the woods of Garbchoill" (Garryhill) stood Art and his , Haverty states:- "That it was with difficulty this Chief "urraghts" in their many coloured mantles, and tunics of Irish was persuaded to offer his submission, and when the English dye - the gallowglasses in coats of mail and iron helmets, had him in their hands there was some attempt made to de­ with long swords, and broad broad, heavy, keen-edged axes, tain him, O'Byrne, O'Moro and O'Nolan being finally kept and the kerns more lightly armed. We may imagine what a as hostages for him." humiliating day it must have been for Art. For the following detailed account of the procedure· and list "The high King of N as, the tree of Broghda; of the submissions we are indebted to the late Lord Walter The lord of Munster .... Fitzgerald, who took them from the "Calendar of Carew The Cahirian hero." Manuscripts."- "On the 16th February, 1396, Sir Thomas According to Joyce, "this magnificent expedition of Richard's Mowbray and the King's Commissioners met Art Mac Mur­ which cost an enormous sum of money, produced no useful rough, King of Leinster, who was mounted on a black steed, result whatever ... As for the submission and reconciliation in an open field, called Ballygorey, near Catherlagh, on the of the Irish chiefs, it was all pure sham. After a stay cif nine side of Slemargy, in the diocese of Leighlin. In his company months the King was obliged to return to England. Scarcely were several native chiefs with their armed followers, in­ had he left sight of land when the Chiefs, one and all, re­ cluding Garret O'Byrne and Donnell O'Nolan, 'captains of nounced their allegiance and fighting went on again." their nation.' The terms of the agreement and the King's It must be remembered that Mac Murrough had two in­ Letters Patent were read in English by John Moiten, a cleric terviews with the representatives of Richard, the first took of the Lincoln diocese, and translated into Irish by Edmond p!Jce at Ballygorey, Co. Carlow, on the 16th February, 1395 Vale, Master of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in and the second, which is described in Froissart's Chronicles, Ireland (Kilmainham), Art Mac Murrough then went through according to Darcy McGee, at Glenart, near Arklow, during the ceremony of homage. . . . He then was given the kiss of Richard's second expedition, when the Earl of Gloucester peace by Sir Thomas, on behalf of the King, and rising to his acted as his representative. feet the ceremony closed. The sub-chiefs in order of rang then After the lapse of nearly six centuries is it extremely difficult also did homage. On this occasion the ceremony was performed to locate the exact position of those historic meeting places, r by Garret OByrne, Chief of 'Crioch Branach' and Ranclagh, but exhaustive research and extensive local inquiry have en­ r in the County of Wicklow; Donnell O'Nolan of Fotharda Fea, abled the writer to fix with all possible certainty the exact now in the Barony of Forth, County Carlow; Murrough O'Con­ position of Ballygorey. nor, Chief of Offaly; and Rory Oge and Shane, sons of Mor­ Dr. Comerford, under the heading "Ballygorey" states: - rogh 'Boy' O'More, Lord of Slieve Margy. On the morrow, "The townland of this name, lying to the north and west of February 17th, in a house within the Castle of Catherlagh, the Grange (Tullow), is noteworthy as the place where the Irish same Edmond Vale took oath faithfully to expound in English chieftains assembled to make submission to Thomas Mowbray, the liege homages of the above named and he did so. Then Earl of Nottingham." A search of all the available Ordnance David Mac Manus O'Murarghe (i.e., O'Murroughoe, alias maps, and of the map of Co. Carlow, dated 1840, in the Murphy) and E. Mac Garret Kavanagh of Hy Kinsellagh, County Council Offices, Carlow, proved fruitless as did also did homage in the same manner. Then came Geoffrey O'Bren­ Sir Wm. Petty's Down Survey Map of 1863 ... The "Alpha­ nan of I. Dough; Fineen Mac Gilla Patrick of Upper Ossory; betical Index to the townlands of Ireland" (Alex Thom. Henry Tallon (of Agha, County Carlow) an English rebel; 1877), contains but one townland of Ballygorey, viz., a place Thomas 'Caragh' Kavanagh; and Shane O'Nolan, who were of that name in the Parish of Portnascully, Barony of lverk, not required to do homage, but were sworn to submit to the P. L. Union of Waterford, Co. Kilkenny. It was geographic­ King's Ordnance and disposition. ally impossible that the meeting could have t1ken place so On the 18th, Lisagh Mac Feotas (or Pierce) of the Nation close to Waterford City. of Hyrth (? Irry) and O'Toole (? Hugh O'Toole of Imaal, Evidently the position gave trouble to previous writers on in the County of Wicklow), did homage as above in the the subject, as in the Notes by Messrs. Herbert Hore, Robert Church of the Friars Minors of Tristle Dermond (new Castle­ Malcolmson and Rev. James Graves to the "Journal of Thomas dermot). On the 25th June, these and other homages, were for­ Dinely," recording his visit to Carlow in 1680, they state:­ warded in two hampers, by the King, to John Bishop of "It is not to be expected that he (Dinely) would have noticed

20 two or three places in the Shire of Carlow, which on account sion house, castle and lands of Grange-forth and thirty-six of their high historic associations, demand some allusions acres; the tithes of the said manor, issuing out of Littletone, from us in our character of topographers. The first is 'Bally­ Ballygorie, Glenoke, Rathveon ... and Glenclough. To hold gawran' (now Garryhill) so named as the scene of the encamp­ in capite by the twentieth part of a Knight's fee, and a fine ment in 1394 of Richard II, at the head of the stately army of ten pounds Irish." with which he in that year invaded this country . . . The The association of these inquisitions of the names Grange­ encampment is named 'Ballygorey' in a contemporary archive, ford, Glenoge and Rathbawn with Balligorey, would at once which sets forth how ... Art Mac Murrough, who was styled lead us to the conclusion that they must be in the same King of Leinster here made his formal submission before the neighbourhood, and a glance at the Ordnance Map in which Earl Marshal of England." we find the first three as adjoining townlands, would tend to This note is inaccurate in at least two pat ticulars (1) convince us that Balligorey must also be in this locality, but Richard was not "at the head of his stately army," at Bally­ that the name must be disguised under some modern desig­ gorey; (2) "Ballygowran" does not represent either Garryhill nation, as has happened with very ~y of our Irish town­ (which was marked on the old maps as Garbh Choill), or lands. That this is the fact has been proved by inquiry on the Ballygorey. It is more likely to point to Belach Gawran-the spot, where the "Well of Balligorey", on the farm of Mr. present Gowran in the County Kilkenny. James Reade, in the townland of Bawnogephlure, is pointed Professor Curtis has gone to very considerable trouble in out by old residents as "the place where the Chiefs met." seeking to identify the pbces mentioned in the letters of This Well is a clear spring which gushes out from beneath an King Richard. He definitely locates "the wood of Laverne," immense granite boulder, and after a course nf about one as "a forest of wide extent stretching along the B,,rrow about hundred yards the stream flows into the Aghalonn River, a St. Mullins, and reaching into Counties Wexford and Kilkenny, tributary of the River Burren (the ancient Borrinn Carmen). and Garbh Choill as Garryhill, and he gives a map made in People sometimes go to this well for cures for rheumatism, 1570, and printed in "The Life and Times of Sir Peter and there is a tradition that there was formerly a town here. Carew," in which the position of these two places is clearly As the area around the well is very much bounder-strewn shown. The name Ballygorey does not appear m this map, it seemed an unlikely place for the encampment of two large nor does it appear in the special map made to illustrate forces of military, so further inquiry elicited the information Richard's first Irish campaign, and hence, we may reasonably that "the Treaty was signed at Paglerrigan." This place is assume that Professor Curtis found himself unable to locate it. about a statute mile to the north east of the well, and a flat After the disestablishment of the great monasteries, and the stone in a field on the farm of Mr. T. McDonald, of Rath· seizure of their properties in the time of Henry VIII, it was bawn, is pointed out as .the exact spot where the submissions the custom to hold "inquisitions" in order to find out the were made. possession of the monasteries, so that they might be disposed of as the King thought fit. These inquisitions were inquiries The question will at once arise, why was such a remote place ~I held on oath before a jury of the principal Anglo Norman chosen for a conference so historically important. The answer residents in the neighbourhood to find out in case of a for­ may well be that it was chosen because it was 50 near to the feited estate (1) the quantity and limits of the land; (2) How great Monastery of Killerig, which lies about a mile to the much was held in demesne and how much was held by tenants North West. We are told that in the reign of King John, and followers; (3) The customs, duties, and services received Gilbert de Borard founded a Preceptory at Killerig, under the yearly out of the lands. invocation of St. John the Baptist, for Knights Templars, By inquisitions 5 and 9 of Henry VIII, it was found that and that, on the suppression of this Order, their property was the Abbot of the Cistercian Monastery of Baltinglass, in right conferred on the Knights Hospitallers, who remained in oc­ of his Monastery, was in possession, among others, of the fol­ cupation until the reign of Henry VIII. We know that in his lowing lands, etc., in the County Carlow: - march northwards towards Dublin, Richard made Jerpoint The Grange of Grangeford, in the Barony of Carlow, and Abbey, near Thomastown, his fir5t stopping place. We next the following lands : - hear of him at Leighlin, where he may have rested at the In the Parish of Grangeford-Grangeforthe, Littletone, Priory of St. Stephen, and it may safely be concluded that the Balligorey, Glenoke, Rathweon, Tincloghe alias Clincloghe. Preceptory of Killerig would next pr~ for him a congenial In an Article on Baltinglass Abbey, Lord Walter Fitzgerald resting place. All these Monasteries were "of the English shows great industry research and ingenuity in trying to establishment," and so were supporters of Richard and identify the names of the places given in the old inquisitions opponents of Mac Murrough, and would have made desirable and comparing them with the present place names. He camping places for Richard's army. identifies Grangeforthe with the present Grangeford, Glenoke There can be little hesitation then in concluding (I) that Mac with Glenoge, and Rathweon with Rathbawn, but he fails to Murrough and the other Leinster Chiefs did make formal sub­ identimy Littletone, Balligorey and Tincloghe. mission to Richard; (2) that "the submission of the Chiefs'' The lands thus taken over were, on the 10th October, m took place at Ballygorey, and (3) that Ballygorey is now the 9th year of the reign of King James I, granted to Chris­ known as Bawnogephlure, in the parish of Grangeford and topher Chivers, Esq. The grant included "the manor, man- County of Carlow.

The Editor, Officers and Committee of the Old Carlow Society wish to extend their sincere sympathy to their chairman, Alec Burns, on the death of his wife, who was a member of the O.C.S. for many years.

21 Who was McEvoy?

BY OLIVER SNODDY, M.A.

IN CARLOVIANA 1970 I published a short note (p.30) docked at Quebec on 27th October 1907, that its pas­ about D. J. McEvoy the Carlovian, father of Florence senger list is no longer available, that their Department of Monteith Lynch. No information was volunteeres as a Investigation has no record of an investigation into result of my note. 'the untimely death of any of her passengers', that the Meantime I have been digging and trying to substan- Municipal Police in Quebec and the Quebec Provincial tiate and expand his daughter's few references to him. Police have 'no record of any cases prior to the years Herewith is an interim report, which unfortunately adds 1925-1926' and that the Archives Department of the 10 very little. Province of Quebec had no record of McEvoy either • The only David McEvoy traceable in the Registry of In addition to the letter from Neptune Inn, Quebec to Births was one born in Finglas, Co. Dublin, on 16th his mother David McEvoy jnr. has a letter "from the July, 1871, son of David McEvoy, a Labourer, and of shipping company about the disappearing McEvoy" .11 Mrs.x Mary McEvoy nee Malone.1 This hardly tallies with Mrs. Lynch adds Lynch's description2 but is not necessarily irreconcilable if There was an inquiry and a seaman named Williams all clues could slip into place. gave testimony that "he was going towards the ship Mrs. Lynch suggested that he was a graduate of Bromp­ and saw McEvoy start up the gangway, when two ton Oratory3. Graduate is inapplicable since Brompton shadowy figures stopped him and there was a tus­ is not a university. My fifst enquiry at the Oratory re­ sle and he heard a splash, just then the tower deck chimed midnight", such was the account of the only vealed that he was not listed there as entering the nov­ 12 itiate nor as a member of the 'Brothers of the Little Ora­ eyewitness • tory'-a kind of Confraternity associated with the com­ Mrs. Lynch also added that munitt. I mentioned this to Mrs. Lynch who replied that My father was Honorary Clerk of the Chapel at "As to Brompton Oratory, the graduation pictures were Westland Row Church for years, he was confidential on display in the halls, up to the time of the Blitz, the secretary to Mr. Brindley "The Keeper of the March 5 Book", also my father was "Starter of the Ashtown bombing of Britain." I have now written to the various 13 Races" for years • schools connected with the Ordder, but at time of writing While McEoy married Mary Florence Burke in West­ without result. land Row on 16th September, 1894, in the presence of Mrs. Lynch also advised that her brother David had a 1 6 Joseph Dunne and Mary Mac Loughlin 4, there is "no re­ letter from her father to her mother from Canada but cord or reference to his being an 'honorary clerk' there".' 5 so far I have failed to obtain a copy or extract. In her He married from 24 Queen's (.NOW Pearse) Square. Many letter she added about his journalistic career that of the houses in Queen's Square at the time are listed He was over the Paper and Ink on the Freeman's as tenements, while No. 24 is listed as being occupied by Journal and edited the Sport Page on the Evening Alexander Gore, a builder. McEvoy may have had an ap­ Mail, also had a Gaelic page in the "Irish Packet," artment in the house, though t does not sound like the his association with Arthur Griffits and Dr. Dick was "big house" to which McEvoy "being an only child, took 7 16 well known in the news circles • his bride to live with" his parents • Both the Freeman's Journal and the Evening Mail are To the description of his sporting life in her book17 Mrs. defunct and I failed to make contact with any old veteran Lynch added the above information about the match book journalist who remembered McEvoy. A cursory glance at and the Ashtown Races. Both T. W. Brindley the "Keep­ the Irish Packet did not reveal any signed articles by er of the Match-book" and his son C. W. Brindley, who him. succeeded him as "Keeper" are dead and the family have l.s to his short Canadian career on the advice of the no records of McEvoy's relations with the office of its 18 Canadian Embassy8 I wrote to Laurentide Paper Regd. in holder • Montreal on two occasions9 without reply. From Candian Finally Mrs. Lynch advised that her "Grandmother's Pacific I learned that the ship HMS Empress of Ireland name was Josephine and I heard a name like Barlow"

22 whom she thought "was not a Carlow woman" and that to 1924. The McEvoy papers may be still among the "un­ My Grandfather's estate was handled by Falls and sorted Deed boxes" there, but at any rate are not read­ 20 Co., 2, Gardiner's Row, Dublin. I have here a letter ily locateable • from them dated December 20th, 1918. There was an Though a little is added to my 1970 piece with this account of his funeral arrangements, handled by a account, that little is really very small and the question cousin named Pierce Wall, I believe of the police still remains 'Who Was McEvoy?' Perhaps by Carlov­ 19 dept. in Carlow • iana 1972 we may have filled out more of the life and Orpen, Franks & Co. who took over the Falls & Co. career of this 'unknown' journalist with a Carlow back­ business have a Falls & Co. ledger which goes only back ground.

FOOTNOTES dated 4 February 1968 (recte 1969). 1 Kindly extracted from the registers (which were checked for 11 Mrs. Lynch's letter of 7 June 1970. the period 1871 to 1876 inclusively) and reported to me by 12 ibid. oifig an ard-chlaraitheora on 9 December, 1968. 12 ibid. 2 Florence Monteith Lynch, The Mystery Man of Banna 13 ibid. Strand, New York, 1959, pp. 18, 19. 14 Copy dated 7 November 1968 of the entry m the parish 3 op. cit., p.18. register. ' Letter from the superior on 12 November 1968. 35 Letter from the administrator 7 December 1968. 5 Letter of 7 June 1970. 16 Florence Monteith Lynch, op. cit., p.19. 6 ibid. 17 ibid. 7 ibid. 1s Letters to me from Messrs. T. P. and T. A. Brindley, 11 8 Letter of 12 November 1968 from the Information Assistant. and 13 August 1970. 9 On 13 November 1968 and on 20 April 1970. 19 Letter of 7 June 1970. 10 Letter from the Chief of the Dep3rtment of Investigation ~0 Letter of 14 July 1970.

Local Folklore (Continued from page 13)

ter, Golden Syrup or Treacle. Spring nettles cooked like "Luck Penny" was also an integral part of the buying Spinach were also used by country people. and selling of livestock, poultry and other articles, at the old fairs and markets. The Auction Marts have done I was told by a great uncle that he remembered as a away with this traditional custom although it still pre­ young boy, cattle being cured of the dreaded "Foot and vails in private deals among country people. The seller Mouth" disease. It was not notifiable in those days, the always had to give the purchaser a coin for "Luck", pre­ farmers probably did not know what the illness was. The ferably in silver. animals had hot poultices put on their feet, enclosed The desire to preserve old memories and traditions in sacking. They were fed on warm milk, beaten raw should have a wide appeal to all our members. We live in eggs and gruel, sometimes a little brandy was given in an age of speed, when the simpler ways of life are fast the drink (It was three-pence a glass then). If they were disappearing. The mighty machines of industry are sweep­ unable to drink, they were "drenched" with a bottle ing away the old crafts which were once an integral part filled with the mixture. They recovered. A goat was al­ of our history. Folklore is the Cinderella of Historical ways kept with cows on a farm as a protection against research. The ordinary people with a tradition behind disease. Early this summer I saw a magnificent herd of them have the folklore that has been handed down to dairy cows been driven in for milking and bringing up the them for generations. Let us all in this year of Conser­ rere was-you have guessed it-a goal. Folklore is still vation endeavour to preserve our precious heritage before with us. it disappears for ever.

23 Some Co. Carlow Wills BY MRS. PHAIR

WILLS ARE of the first importance in the compiling of of Carlow. Whereas my mother Mary Bunbury, widow pedigrees. To-day the genealogist, having deted an en­ and relict of Benjamin Bunbury, Esq., by her will dated try in the Index of either the Prerogative or Consistor­ 7th Decenw:er, 1710, bequeathed to me, Deborah Ber­ ial series, has to try to find a copy or abstract of it made nard, the sum of £150 stg. to be divided amongst my before 1922 when the vast majority of all Irish wills per­ children as I should think fit. Eldest son, John Hum­ ished in the Record Office, Dublin. The first place to look frey, £25; 2nd son, Mathew Humfrey, £25; children of is under the testator's surname in the card index of tes­ my third son, Benjamin Humfrey, deed., £25 (12 to tamentary documents at the Public Record Office. Next Edward H. and £13 to Deborah Summers, being the child­ in importance is Vicar's 'Index of the Prerogative Wills ren of my son Benjamin); 4th son, Thomas Humfrey, of Ireland 1536-1810 for Sir William Betham made ab­ £25; 5th son, William Humfrey, £25; 6th son, Charles stracts of them to the year 1800, and also drew up Will Bernard, £5; 7th son, Franks Bernard, £5; 8th son, Jos­ Pedigrees from them. His notebooks are at the Public eph Bernard, £5; Eldest daughter, Elizabeth Rudkins, wife Record Office, and his Will Pedigree series at the Gen­ to Henry Rudkins, £5; second eldest daughter, Ann ealogical Office, Dublin Castle. Abstracts of Quaker Barns (Barn's) wife to Thomas Barn's, £5. Eldest son, Wills at The Friends' Meeting House, Eustace Street, John Humfrey's 11 children. Edward Humfrey, son to Dublin have been published by the Irish Manuscripts my third son, Benjamin Humfrey. Daughter-in-law, Commission, who -..also published two volumes of the Ann Humfrey, wife to my son, John Humfrey. Appoints Wills, 1708-1785, amongst the thousands of deeds at eldest son, John Humfrey of town of Carlow and Henry the Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin. The Irish Rudkins of Wells in Co. Carlow, exors. Proved by John Manuscripts Commission also published, in Analecta Humfrey and Henry Rudkins, the exors., 5th May, Hibernica VoL 17 'Index of Will Abstracts in the Gene­ 1732'. alogical Office, Dublin'. The abstracts are the work of Benjamin Bunbury of Killerick (Killerig), Co. Carlow many professional and amateur genealogists of the made his will, 26th December, 1715. A brecis of it is on past. Among the collections of MSS examined for this record at the Registry of Deeds (Book 16, p. 357, mem­ Index was that of Sir Edmund Bewley. Jotted down in orial 7709, registered 21st June, 1716), and we find it over forty small notebooks his notes include wills of also in Bewley Notebook S, p. 20. It is interesting to several Co. Carlow families. Amongst them may be men­ find that one account augments the other. The precis tioned Bennett and Bernard, who intermarried, and mentions 'his daughters'-Bewley names them as Mary, Bunbury. Hester and Hannah. The precis names his brothers Jos­ Thomas Bennett of Ballyloughton, Co. Carlow, whose eph, Thomas, William and Mathew Bunbury, Bewley xwill was dated 18th April, 1776, held the lands of omits some of them. Benjamin's wife was Hester, daugh­ Clogh-(daton) etc. jointly with his brother-in-law Wil­ ter of Edmund Huband of the city of Dublin, and Ben­ liam Bernard, from Thomas Bernard, Esq. An earlier will jamin appoints him an executor. Sir William Betham abstract show a Barnard/Bunbury connection, and is an (in G.O. MSS 262), tells us that the marriage of Hester example of the kind of will abstract a genealogist and Benjamin was on 27th April, 1705, that she was now rejoices to find. of the parish of St. Nicholas Without, Dublin, and had Bewley Notebook S. p. 20 (Genealogical Office MSS £1,000 fortune. Benjamin was High Sheriff in 1713. 512): 'Will of Deborah Bernard of Burren Street, tow of The Bunbury of Lisnevagh family descended from his Carlow, widow of Thomas Bernard of Clonmulsk, brother William. dated 5th October, 1728. To be buried in parish church

24 Old Carlow people may remember this view of "The Weir and Bridge." The houses on the left of the picture were known as Castle View.

l Perhaps another cherished memory of many old Carlovians - the Old Cinema in Burrin Street. The Post Office is now on this site. ence ... standing in an elevated and beautiful situation ... The grounds are laid out in pleasure-walks and planta­ Prize Winning Essay tions, and the garden, which is walled in, is well stock­ ed and very productive . . . Application to be made to in Dudley Hill, Esq., Carlow. GODFREY MEMORIAL ESSAY COMPETITION 1971 After only four years, Sir Dudley was off again. Appar­ ently the quiet life of a country gentleman did not pro­ "I VISITED BRAGANZA" vide enough action for a young man who had known the thrills of military life. So the arm claimed him once more. In time he became Governor-General of the West ON THE 22nd of May, 1967, the people of Carlow lis­ Indies. He died in Bengal in India where he had been in tened in awe and sorrow as the bell tolled out its sad command for some years. He had a family of six but they message, "The Bishop is dead." Our thoughts were turn­ never returned to Carlow. So we leave the Hill family ed towards Braganza. Soon we were on our way to see and return to Braganza Villa. the lying-in-state of the Most Rev. Dr. Keogh. We fell Just at that time there lived in Carlow one of the silent as we stepped inside the avenue gate. We noticed most famous patriots that Ireland ever had. He was a the trim lawns, flower-beds-the air of peace and calm. bishop-Most Rev. Dr. Doyle. His unswerving fidelity to Once inside, we became aware that this was a house the Catholic cause and his fearless patriotism inspired with a difference. Bishops had lived there since the time the clergy of his diocese to provide him with a home. So of the great J.K.L. Now our own bishop had died there. they purchased "Graganza Villa", "a residence that will The room in which he was waked was not like a chapel. fix the attention of posterity on the period and the Pre­ We noticed we were in a furnished drawing room. There late." were curtains on the windows, oil paintings on the walls, Dr. Doyle, in the year 1826, left the house in Old Der­ armchairs and fancy tables. These things were of sec­ rig and came to live in Carlow. From Braganza he wrote ondary importance, but I could not help stealing an odd his celebrated letters under the pen-name of "J.K.L."­ glance at them. However, I had come to pray and not to James of Kildare and Leighlin. In the great drawing­ sightsee. room he had his first interview with Daniel O'Connell Since that visit I have wanted to know more about who came to discuss the "Workhouse Bill" with him. Braganza House and now I know its story. One day in O'Connell was so impressed by the eloquence of the the year 1819 a young man decided to return to his nat­ bishop that he exclaimed, "My Lord. were· it not that ive Carlow, build a house and settle down there. His your lordship is wearing the mitre and holding the pas­ name was Sir Dudley St. Leger Hill. On his father's side toral crook you would now have the sword girded on." he was descended from an English family who came to Graganza has been the home of the Bishops of Kil­ Ireland at the time of William III. As Secretary to the dare and Leighlin right down to our own day. The fol­ Grand Jury, this man had won quite a reputation. Dud­ lowing bishops lived there. Most Rev. Doctors Nolan, ley was an adverturous boy and at the age of fourteen Haly, Walshe, Lynch, Comerford, Foley, Cullen and he joined the army. Soon he found himself fighting Keogh. But the present bishop-Most Rev. Dr. Lennon­ in the Peninsular Wars against Napoleon. For a time he resides in a small house on Station Road. With his kind joined the Protuguese army, where he won medals for permission I set out some weeks ago to visit Braganza. bravery. When the war was over he came back to Carlow. This time I went as a sight-seer. The caretaker took me "The Carlow Post" reported the following, "Sir Dud­ through the house. The library fascinated me. I thought ley Hill has realised a fortune abroad by fighting the of the great J.K.L. and all the hours he spent there. I battles of his King and Country, and he is determined to handled some of his books and felt not a little awed. spend it at home in the bosom of his family and among In the hall I noticed a mini-museum, which taomtained the friends of his early years." a very beautiful and simple chalice. We may thank Most Sir Dudley had not far to look for a first-class archi­ Rev. Dr. Comerford that we have this treasure. He knew tect. On the spot was the famous Thomas Cobden. He that the soldiers of Queen Elizabeth had filled in a mir­ was a pioneer in the revival of Gothic architecture. He aculous well when the monastery at Killoughternane was designed the Cathedral and St. Mary's Church, and now supressed, so he set out to find the well and he was suc­ he designed his most famous private house-"Braganza cessful. He had it cleaned out and Brigid O'Hara took Villa." over as caretaker. One day she noticed a sack at the bot­ Came the morning of August 26th, 1819, the Hill fam­ tom of the well. Investigations revealed a chalice with ily and a party of friends proceMed to the site. Mrs. Hill, 16th century inscriptions. It is believed that some with silver trowel. laid the foundation stone. Mr. Cob­ priest on the run hid it and for two hundred years it lay den had something to say befitting the occasion and there. It is now known as the "Braganza Chalice" and "Braganza Villa" was born, and christened. It was called ~any copies of this historic chalice have been made. after the ruling family in Portugal. Three years it was Today Braganza is semi-deserted. Only the caretaker agrowing. The employment given during the building op­ lives there. It does not look neglected, but it looks lon­ erations was a great boom to the town. Then one day, ely, silent, brooding over its long life. Next year, it will there it stood, looking elegant and beautiful with its be one hundred and fifty years old, and I cannot help gardens, lawns, walks and, to crown all, its stretch of wondering what the seventies have in store for this most the river Barrow at the rear. famous bµilding-"Braganza House." But an unexpected thing happened, and once again the "Carlow Post" of July 23rd, 1823 had a message Jean Comerford, 13 Bestfield, Carlow-16 years. from Dudley Hill. "To be let . . . This desirable resid- (Presentation Convent, Carlow) Folklore from a historian

F. O'Toole, Ballybeg, Ballinglen, Arklow

PRIOR TO the 1798 celebrations held in 1938 there was Throughout its course from mountain source a lively revival of interest throughout the country in the This river rushes fair and fore Rebellion. One of Carlow's most active and productive It roams and branches by rocks and falls historians, the late Edward O'Toole of Rathvilly, did very The type of strength and liberty considerable research on various aspects of the rising, in Clear flows the Dereen O so far as County Carlow was concerned. I concentrated Clear flows the Dereen O on the Battle · of Hacketstown, about which there was And every wave would fain nor have considerable written and oral material available. How­ The dirt from Dirty Pierry O ever, it was soon evident that various accounts could not And all the while from Ballinguile be reconciled with each other, so I had recourse to the Slievereagh and wild Rathgorrah O ever helpful and enthusiastic, Mr. O'Toole, who soon put By every glen to Pierry's den matters in perspective by pointing out that there were It bids good men 'good morro-w·O' actually two Battles of Hacketstown at an interval of a Clear flows the Dereen 0. month. It was, of course, relatively easy then to straigh­ ten out the apparent discrepincies. "Mr. Ryan told me that he remembered the Battle of At that time Mr. O'Toole had been deeply engrossed Hacketstown in June 1798. He was at that time about in the ancient history of not only County Carlow but 3 years old and he remembered the terror in which the the entire diocese and had already his name to several country people stood of the Yeomen and the Hessions. well-known publications. I was very pleased therefore to 'Hussions' he called them. There was a ford across the find recently some notes which I had from him at that Dereen at Williamstown (there has been an iron bridge time in which he himself is passing on some of the folk­ there for nearly 60 years) and he said he saw the 'Yeo­ lore of the period. I quote directly from his manuscript. men' and 'Hessions' crossing the ford from Coolman­ "In the early 80's of the last century there lived in Rath­ na into Williamstown-the red coats of the soldiers hav­ villy a very old man named James Ryan. He was a ing left an indelible impression on his memory. The tailor by trade and always dressed in a frock coat and menkind must have been at this battle for he said the wore a 'beever' hat. I was at that time about 22 or 23 women and children left the houses and ran away across years old and took great pleasure in listening to the the ·fields to Knocklighen and Knockevagh to Knockboy. stories of Mr. Ryan-as he was invariable called. On a plane called the 'Alley' there were caves in which "He was born in Williamstown in the Parish of Rath­ they hid. He distinctly remembered his mother (Dwyer's villy and his mother was closely related to Michael cousin) carrying him in her arms and other women car­ Dwyer, the 'insurgent Captain of the Wicklow Mts'- a rying their children. first cousin, I believe. In his youth he went to England "In 1867 he was living in the suburbs of Manchester and settled down in Manchester where he started in busi­ near brick fields. He remembered the commotion on ness and got married. His wife and family having died the day on which Col. Kelly was released from the pri­ he gave up his business and came back to Rathvilly 'to son van. He saw the arrival of William Philip Allen -the die in peace at last' in his native place. younger of the Manchester martyrs and saw the rabble Williamstown is iin the South East of Rathvilly Parish of the neighbourhood trying to lynch him. A brick flung and is separated from the Parish of Hacketstown by the from the crowd struck Allen on the head and the blood River Dereen, a tributary of the Slaney. About 1840 a streamed down his face and but for the police he would man named Pierry Byrne, nicknamed 'Dirty Pierry', lived have been torn to pieces. in the Hacketstown side of the Dereen, near to Williams­ As Mr. Ryan died about 1885 he had a knowledge of town. At a celebrated election he voted against the Nat­ Irish political movements from the Rebellion of 1798 to ional candidate, Daniel O'Connell, Jnr. and he and the the formation of the Land League in 1880. Dereen were the subjects of a poem ascribed to a Fr. He was a very intelligent and gentlemanly old man Lalor, who had been Parish Priest of Hacketstown. It and was highly respected by all who knew him." ran as follows and was sung to the air of 'Green grows It is remarkable that when I knew Mr. O'Toole over the rushes O'. (Continued on page 32)

27 • CARLOW WOMAN ANN GLOVER Witch or Martyr?

By an t-Athair Peadar MacSuibhne, M.A.

THE FIRST Irish emigrants to America were slaves. From extort some confession from her, but the only response 1655 they were transported to the Barbadoes and to the she gave: "I am an Irish Catholic" showed her invincible English plantations in America by the Cromwellian Com­ constancy in the faith. I have no hesitation in pronounc­ missioners. That policy was continued far into the ing that Glover family to be a family of glorious mar­ eighteenth century in the trans-shipment of servants in­ tyrs." dentured to their maters for a certain number of years. The cardinal. an eminent historian, wrote in 1909. The historian of the Barbadoes wrote: "I have seen an The author of The Pioneeer Irish in New England wrote overseer beat a servant with a cane about the head 'till in 1937:3 "The sad fate of Anne Hibbins brings to mind the blood flowed, for a fault that was not worth speak­ the famous case of the Irishwoman, Anne Glover, known ing of, and yet he must have patience or worse will as "Goody Glover", who in 1688 was hanged in Boston, follow." Persecution was often for religion. There was on the pretence that she was a witch. but "for a certain­ little ecumenism in those days; sectarian frenzy and big­ ty because she was a Catholic and would not renounce 2 otry prevailed. Cardinal Moran cites a notable example: her faith." Drake in his Annals of Witchcraft in New "The fate of Mrs. Glover and her daughter, which England says "the magistrates, long annoyed by the has happily been recorded, may serve to illustrate the presence of an obstinate Papist in Boston, ordered Good sufferings that fell to the lot of countless Irish exiles. Glover to be taken into custody" and the Puritan min­ The family seems to have been transported from the ister, Cotton Mather, in a sermon preached in the old Co. Carlow. Mrs. Glover's husband soon died through north church, Boston, said of her that she was "a scand­ the hardships of his lot as a slave in Barbadoes. She and alous old Irishwoman, very poor. a Roman Catholic and her daughter were indentured as servants to a promin­ obstinate in idolatry." A Boston merchant, one Robert ent Puritan family in ~n. The mistress of the house Calef, who knew and sympathised with the unfortunate wrote in the most jubilant terms of the skill and effic­ woman thus wrote of her in More Wonders of the Invis­ iency of the new servants who had come to her; but they ible World, printed in London in 1700: "Goody Glover had one unpardonable fault; they were incorrigible Pap­ was a despised crazy poor old woman, an Irish Catholic, ists. Mrs. Glover and her daughter proved most obedient who was tried for afflicting the Goodwin children. Her and docile in everything except religion; nothing could behaviour at the trial was like that of one distracted. induce them to take part in the Protestant worship. They did her cruel. The proof against her was wholly The young ladies of the Puritan family resolved to over­ deficient. The jury brought her guilty. She was hung. come this obstinancy and every art was employed to She died a Catholic." compel the Irish servants to renounce their faith. Such The 1954 Easter number of the Catholic Standard car­ were the hardships Mrs. Glover and her daughter were ries a brilliant paper by Archbishop Richard Cushing of subjected to, that the daughter lost her mind, was sent Boston entitled: "When the Irish were sold as slaves and to a lunatic asylum and died there. hanged as witches." He refers as follows to Anne Glover: A regular plot was now organised to overcome the con­ "There are two persons in particular whose stories must stancy of Mrs. Glover. She was accused of witchcraft and be told. One is the Irish woman known as Goody Glover, all sorts of incantations and other misdeeds were imput­ who in 1688 was hanged in Boston on the pretence ed to her. After many months of such threats and accusa­ that she was a witch, but "for a certainty because ·she tions. she was brought to the court for trial. There was was a Catholic and would not renounce her faith." Drake a witchcraft mania among the Puritans of those days and in his annals of Witchcraft in England says: "The magis­ everything ridiculous that imagination could devise was trates long annoyed by the presence of an obstinate Pap gravely imputed to Mrs. Glover. Everyone in the courc ist in Boston ordered Goody Glover to be taken into felt that the charge was groundless. for her very appear­ custody, and the Puritan Minister, Cotton Mather, in a ance and demeanour more than refuted the statements sermon preached in Old North Church, Boston, said of that were made. When everything else had failed, the her that she was a scandalous old Irishwoman. very judge at length asked her: "If you are not a witch, poor, a Roman Catholic and obstinate in idolatory." It what are you?' She inhesitantingly replied: 'I am an irish would be interesting to know what matter considered the Catholic.' The judge required no more proof but at once worst offence of these four! A Boston merchant, one Rob­ sentenced her to death. Next day the sentence was execu­ ert Cale£, who knew and sympathised with the unfor­ ted. A Puritan minister meantime visited her in gaol to tunate woman, thus wrote of her: "Goody Glover was a

28 despised, crazy, poor old woman, an Irish Catholic, who odd there is no doubt. That she admitted being an Irish was tried for afflicting the Goodwin children. Her be­ Catholic there is no doubt. That she was legally put to haviour at her trial was like that of one distracted. They death on the ground that she was a Catholic is not true. did her cruel. The proof against her was wholly defic­ First there was no law on the books at the time that ient. The jury brought her guilty. She was hung. She proscribed Catholics as such. An argument might be died a Catholic." made for the fact that the Massachussets Bay legisla­ Drake, in referring to Calef's comments says: "She tion was interdicted between 1684 and 1689, and that was not a crazy woman as we now understand the word; the English laws hence took over. Evidence is against it was not meant that she was insane, but simply that any interpretation such as that, because the literature she was weak and infirm." Anne Glover stated that "in of the time and thereafter makes no mention of the the time of Cromwell" she and her husband "were sold death of a Papist. to the Barbadoes," whence they came to this country some That a Catholic woman died professing to the end time before 1682. The Glovers were "cruelly persecuted that she was a Catholic is true. That she died some because of their refusal to attend the sermons of the Pur­ four years before the witchcraft craze in Salem is also itan ministers" and on her trial "she was only able to true. That sentence was pronounced in immediate juxta answer her tormentors in Irish," but when Cotton Mat­ position with her statement of her Catholicism is also her visited her in prison he "asked her to say the Lord's true. But she was not put to death because she was a Prayer for the common belief was that this could not Catholic. Rather was a professing Catholic put to death be done by a Catholic or a witch." She recited the Pater becaus1.t she was odd enough in other ways to be con­ Noster to me in Latin," he said "and in Irish and in sidered a witch. That she died a faithful Catholic is true. English, but she would not end it" and on the day That she died because she was a Catholic or otherwise of her execution "there was a great concourse of peo­ just cannot be proved." ple to see if the Papist would relent." But "the old Irish­ We have now the testimony of a professional histor­ woman conquered Cotton Mather; she died a Catholic and ian as well as that of two Cardinals. There does not imitating her Divine Master, she died forgiving her en­ seem to be any contradiction. Persecution of the daugh­ emies, all those from whom she had suffered grievous ter for her faith drove her into a lunatic asylum where wrong." she died. Persecution of the mother for her faith made On 25th November, 1960, the present writer wrote to her odd, made her appear like a witch and for this she Cardinal Cushing asking him to put him in contact was put tode ath. Persecution for the faith seems to be with a historian of Boston with a view to obtaining fur­ the cause of death in each case. Mgr. Riley notes that ther particulars on the Glover family. The Cardinal sent Mrs. Glover's declaration of her faith and the sentence of the enquiry to Monsignor A. J. Riley, 126 Sea St., Quin­ death are in juxtaposition. It is difficult to avoid the cy 69, Mass., U.S.A., an authority on Catholicity in col­ conclusion that one led to the other. Cardinal Moran onial New England. On 20th January, 1961, Monsignor does not raise the question whether the execution of Mrs. Riley wrote: Gkwer ·was legal Cir illegal. His contention that the "The letter of Fr. Peadar Swayne returned. The good Glovers were a family of glorious martyrs appears to be woman who died was Mrs. Mary (Goody) Glover, not Ann, valid. as the letter indicates. May I quote from p.301 of my Readers should help to ascertain who were this heroic "Catholicism in colonial New England, Washington D.C. Co. Carlow family. A former Master of the Carlow Work­ Catholic Univ. of America 1936. "The conclusion of (Rev. touse whose family lived in Burren St. and a Nurse James) Ditton and (John Gilmany) Shea that she Glover of Brown St., a native of Kerry, may be ruled out. (Goody Glover) was hanged 'because she could not pray Thomas Glover, who lived in the house formerly called in a language to her foreign and unknown and strangely The Thatch, in Graiguecullen, and who died there about enough for not praying in Latin' is not justified by the 1940 was a native of Dublin. Who were these Co. Car­ evidence at hand. That the good woman was definitely low Glovers?

29 A view of the old Munster & Leinster Bank, Tullow Street, which was demolished recently to make- entrance to the new Bank.-Photographer: Mr. J. J. Woods.

An old view of the Presentation Convent, Carlow The Holed Stone of

Aghade By P. Hunt, BA., H.D.E.

MOST READERS will have seen, at one time or another, "Trying Stone' at Trumphan on the Island of Skye. This the holed-stone of Aghade, about 2 miles South East of was a natural boulder with a hole at the top; accused per­ Tullow on the Bunclody Road. Though the stone is there sons were brought to it and allowed to prove their in­ for all to contemplate, what it signifies, no man can nocence or guilt by inserting a finger in the hole while say. We can only speculate; and, if speculation can keep blindfolded-only the innocent would immediately suc­ the folklore surrounding it alive, then the exercise will ceed in finding the hole! be immensely worthwhile. Has the Aghade holed-stone any such associations? When first confronted with the problem of trying to No QRe <:an tell. The shattering effects of those tragic explain its purpose, I first of all set about researching years of the Famine {1845-47), dwelt a disastrous blow associations surrounding similar stones in Ireland, and, to the immemorial customs of the Irish peasants. Sir indeed, all over the world. Many of the stories and as­ William Wilde, writing in 1851, said: "The closest ties sociations you will read in this article are, of course, pure of kinship were dissolved; the most ancient and long­ folklore but are none the less interesting for that. cherished usages of the people were disregarded; the Holed-stones all over the world were, and in some once proverbial gaiety and lightheartedness of the pea­ cases still are, a literal as well as symbolical means, sant people seem to have vanished completely." whereby an ailment, disease or sin might be left behind A holed-stone was also connected with the idea of a or got rid of. Our own holed-stone in Aghade has been compact, between two people, or two nations, there are associated with a cure or preventative of rickets. Newly times when agreements must be reached-and honoured. born uhildren were passed through the hole in this stone Each side makes a declaration, perhaps to stand toget­ to ensure for them a healthy and virorous life. As far her in war, or to fulfil a trade agreement, or to be part­ as I could ascertain, this practice survived down to the ners in marriage for life. No society would ,survive if beginning of the last century. A similar custom at a its members could not trust one another's word at such holed-stone at St. Madron's Spring in Cornwall held times. On the other hand, promises lightly made can much the same beliefs. A holed-stone in Gloucester­ be lightly broken. As a result, men in every age have shire is said to be a cure for measles and the whooping made sure that such agreements or covenants are enter­ cough. At the Clonapeacaib {Co. Cork), women were ed into with solemn ritual. in the habit of drawing some of their clothes through One of these rituals concerned the clasping of hands a hole in a stone when their confinement was approach­ through a holed-stone. Indeed one could go so far as ing, to secure a favourable result. In the Aran Islands, to suggest-note the word 'suggest'- that the wedding ri at Mainister Ciarain, there is a very fine cross inscribed may be a survival of the ceremony when the women pillar stone with a hole through the top; rags passed would have to crawl through an aperture in a sacred stone. through this were used for application to sore limbs. In "St. Wilfred's Needle" in the crypt of Ripon Minister is a graveyard on I ismurray, there is a cross pillar about an authentic survival of this ancient custom. There is a four fee high, with holes conveniently placed to insert holed-stone at Doagh, Co. Antrim, where marriage con­ fingers and thumbs when kneeling in front of it; it was tracts are still ratified, as country couples go there to resorted to for assistance in childbirth. signify their betrothal by clasping hands through the The Holed-stone is also to be found in India: one stone. Another custom is associated with Aonach Tail­ such stone has the custom concerning the forgiveness of teann, the most famous of the ancient August assem­ sin attached to it. To be forgiven of serious sin, the sin­ blies and continued as a peasant festival into the sec­ ner must squeeze his whole body through the hole; for a ond half of the eighteenth century. The name of Tell­ minor sin, the putting through of an arm or head is suf­ town, Co. Meath derives from this assembly and has be­ ficient for forgiveness. In Laristen, in Persia, a holed­ come well known through the phrase 'a Telltown Mar­ stone may be seen, through which soldiers passed them­ riage.' Near here can be seen the "Hollow of the Fair", selves as a cure or preventative for cowardice. There is in where young people are said to have joined hands through North Africa, a 'confessional stone' with which miracul­ a hole in a wooden gate and to have lived together here­ ous powers have been associated; women who seek for­ after for a year and a day. They could then cancel their giveness place their hands in a hole at the centre of the contract by marching their separate ways, North and stone. At Kilmalkeldar, the narrow chancel window of the South. References to marriage contracts being made at Romanesque church is called the 'Eye of the Needle', Telltown are found from early times, and the tradition­ and is wriggled through; as you can imagine, those in al customs seem to have lasted long enough to remain a mortal sin will stick fast. One of the strangest stories strong folk memory in the nineteenth century. I have come across concerns a holed-stone called the We will resume briefly with the idea of these stones

31 being used for making covenants. Dr. Samuel Johnson escaped and fled into Scotland." visited the Island of Iona in 1773, and in an essay de­ It must be confessed that just one of the many as­ scribing his visit, he said: "The place is said to be known sociations connected with holed-stones can be identified where the black stones lie concealed, on which the old with the holed-stone of Aghade. Has this exercise then, Highland Chiefs, when they made contracts and allian­ been a waste of time? Not at all. Many possibilities have ces, used to take the oath which was considered as more been enumerated; their veracity or otherwise is not in sacred than any other obligation, and which could not question. What is in question, is the wonderful heritage be violated without the blackest infamy. In those days of bequeathed to us by our ancestors and our sacred duty violence and rapine, it was of great importance to impress to pass it on to future generations. We must not allow upon savage minds the sanctity of an oath, by some this materialistic age to sally the experience of all that particular and extraordinary circumstances. They would is "wonderful" in our heriage. I will conclude, if I may, not have recourse to the black stones upon small or with a quotation from D. H. Lawrence which serves to common occasions, and when they had established their express the point of this article. "The sheer delight of faith by this tremendous sanction, inconstancy and a child's apperceptions is based on wonder; and deny treachery were no longer feared." it as we may, knowledge and wonder counteract one an­ Any remarks about the holed-stone of Aghade would other. So that as knowledge increases, wonder decreas­ be incomplete without reference to its position in Irish es. We may say again: familiarity breeds contempt. So history. Much has bee made of the "chain marks" on that as we grow older, and become more familiar with the stone: Seathr(m Ceilinn in his 'Foras Feasa' provides phenomena, we become more contemptuous of them, but us with an explanation. "Eochaidh, son of Enna Cenn­ that is only partly true. It has taken some races of men selagh, had given offence to King Niall of the Nine Hos­ · thousands of years to become contemptuous of the tages (King of Ireland 373-401 A.D.) by taking up his moon. It is not familiarity that breeds contempt, it is residence at Tara. He was obliged to withdraw in con­ the assumption of knowledge. Anybody who looks at sequence. Some time afterwards, Eochaidh having slain the moon and says "I know all about that poor orb," is, Laidhgin, son of Bairceadha, Druid of King Niall, that of course, bored by the moon. All our wonderful educa­ monarch invaded Hy-Censelagh and laid it waste. As tion and learning is producing a grand sum-total of bore­ the condition of peace, he required that eochaidh should dom. Modern people are inwardly and thoroughly bored. be delivered into the hands of the injured father. The They are bored because they experience nothing. And druid had him chained to this stone, passing the chain they experience nothing because the wonder has gone out round his neck, and through the aperture, intending that of them. And when the wonder has gone out of a man he should be thus left to a lingering death. Changing his he is dead. He is henceforth only an insect." mind, he ordered nine soldiers to attack and despatch him, upon which, Eochaidh rendered desperate, determ­ ined to make a last effort to get free, in which he was Patrick Hunt. successful, and having slain some of his assailants, .he October 1871.

Folklore from a Historian

(Continued from page 27)

thirty years ago his remarks and tribute to Mr. Ryan cultural activities and such proved to be the case as exactly suited himself for he was then probably one of many readers of this journal will undcmbtedly recall. An the most intelligent and gentlemanly old men in the article of his written in the Carlow Feis Programme of County and certainly there was none more highly respec­ about 1912 was of the greatest possible help to the ted. writer when a Lacey Brother Plaque was unveiled by the His connection with the political movements of his late Sean Lemass in 1960 at Ballinglen. In spite of all times were more involved and startling than Mr. Ryan's. is links with stirring national affairs, he invariably gave He did not fail to place on record his experiences in me the impression that his proudest boast was that he this field and they will make engrossing reading when was the erstwhile teacher of the boy martyr Kevin Barry they are finally published. and never would he display one of Kevin's old copy books However, to continue the link he refer to in his piece without the tear and the smile in his eye. of first hand folklore he himself was deeply involved I trust that the editors of this journal will in future as a youth in the Land League, met Parnell on a number editions be able to place before its readers some of the of occasions and was prominent in organising the fam­ more valuable accounts in both the History and Folk­ ous Parnell meeting at Tullow. He was a Head Centre lore of this county placed on record by the late Edward of the Fenian movement and involved with the Invin­ O'Toole. cibles. He lost the sight of one eye when a defective Fen­ ian pretol exploded while he was training his comrades Editors note: We have included in this edition of the os the I.R.B. at Rathvilly. It must have been then obvious Journal an article by the late Mr. Edward O'Toole by kind that he would play a prominent part in all national and permission of his daughter Miss K. O'Toole ,Rathvilly.

32 William Marshall, EARL OF PEMBROKE

BY W. V. HADDEN

once by being catapulted over the walls into the Streets IN THE Prologue to Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" he de­ of the town, once by being crushed in some of the siege scribes a Norman Knight who was among the "Nine and apparatus-but on all three occasions his captors relent­ twenty in a Company of Sundry Folk happening them to ed, because they in turn were captivated by the innocence fall in fellowship, and they were pilgrims all that towards and charm of the boy. In fact, history records that not Canterbury meant to ride." And here are the well-known long afterwards King Stephen himself was found in his words which Chaucer used with reference to the Knight:- tent playing "Conkers" with just William

There was a Knight, a most distinguished man KNIGHT OF CHIVALRY Who from the day on which he first began William grew up into a handsome young man. He was To ride abroad had followed chivalry, tall, brown-haired, well-made, wiry and very athletic. At Truth, honour, generous thought and courtesy an early age he distinguisshed himself in the tournament He had done nobly in his Sovereign's War lists, then the favourite past-time of the Knights of Chiv­ And ridden into battle, no man more, alry. Like his Contemporaries at Court William was As well in Christian as in heathen places, trained as a fighter and leader, dedicated to arms from And ever honoured for his noble graces." boyhood and always ready for instant war. He had to be able to leap fully armed into the saddle without touch­ There was probably no man in the whole history of ing the stirrups, to wield a lance, sword and shield, to the middle ages more deserving of these words than was wear all day without tiring the heavy armour of his Cas­ William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke. From the time he tle, and this grew ever more elaborate so that even the was a boy until his death in old age he earned the approval face was covered by a ponderous visor. The clashes in the and praise of all who knew him, whether they aere lists were often so severe that the full charging impact friends or foe. As the Founder of the town of Carlow could bucle and pierce even this heavy armour, and on early in the thirteenth Century, no one has more claim one -occasion William Marshall was found kneeling in a on the Notice of the Old Carlow Society in the late smithy with his head laid on the anvil, while the Black­ weieth Century, than William, the Marshall. smith laboured with hammer and tongs in an effort to William was born in about the year 1145 and grew draw off his helmet. This had been beaten out of shape up during one of the most turbulent periods of English and turned right round upon his head by the sheer force History. He was of relatively humble origin- his father of the blows he had sustained in the tournaments. being the Official in charge of the Royal Horses at the Perhaps the nearest equivalent today to the intense Court of King Stephen. Rebellionn had broken out and rivalry of these International Contests of the days of John, the Marshall, (William's father) had gone over to Chivalry is the tremendous interest and enthusiasm of the side of the Empress Matilda. The Rebels were besieg­ the World Cup Soccer Competition! If so, then William ed in the town of Newbury by the Royal Army and at Marshall was the Beorgie Best of his day, and he played one stage they asked for a truce. centre forward for England as the greatest Champion of This was granted, but King Stephen did not trust his the Toutnament Lists of his age! On one famous occas­ Opponents and asked for one of the Sons of John, the ion he unhorsed in no uncertain fashion none other than Marshall, as a hostage. It was John's second Son Richard the Lion Hearted. William who was handed over. FALLS IN LOVE HIS LIFE WAS FORFEIT It was about this time that William Marshall fell in Not long afterwards the Garrison of Newbury was love with the beautiful heiress Isobel de Clare, the one strengthened and revitualled in breach of the terms of and only daughter of Strongbow and Eva McMorrough their truce and this meant inevitably that the life of the and he pleaded with Henry II for her hand. A promise hostage was forfeit. Three times the Royal Forces made was given, but William Marshall had by now become so a show of doing the boy to death in full view of his father influential and indispensible in Henry's Continental Af­ and the Citizens crowded on the walls-once by hanging, fairs that the marriage was delayed and in fact had later

33 to be confirmed and approved by Henry's Successor, none France, and perm1ss10n was postponed. At last in about other than Richard II-who, however, bore no rancour the year 1208 he was released from his Royal Service or ill-will for the indignities he had suffered at an earlier and he brought Isobel to Ireland. Probably , they made date. their Headquarters at Kilkenny but it was at about this Isobel de Clare was good and she was beautiful. She time that he erected his Stone Castles at Kilkenny, Car­ was also very wealthy, owning lands not only in Wales low, Enniscorthy and Ferns, dominating his vast territ­ but also in France, and in Ireland the whole of County roies. Carlow and most of Leinster was part of the inheritance which she claimed through Strongbow as a result of his il­ HIS CASTLE AT CARLOW legal (by Irish Standards) arrangement with Dermot Mc­ These Castles were built to a similar plan with a four­ Murrough. towered Keep and were probably the first of their kind William and Isobel were married in or about the year in Europe. The one in Carlow was certainly not the lar­ 1190 and as the story books say, they lived happily ever gest of the four but in common with Ferns, what re­ after! Certain it is that they had five sons (none of whom, mains of the towers is almost certainly the original incidentally, had any sons of their own in the next Gen­ Stonework erected by William Marshall's Norman Build­ eration so that the line died out) and certain it is, too, ers in the years 1208 to 1212, when he was resident in that Isobel was at the bedside of William Marshall when Ireland. For part of this period he must have lived here he died thirty years later, in 1219, at his Manor of Cav­ in Carlow. From this time, too, dates the first charter ersham on the Thames. He was then well over seventy granted to the town of Carlow, which then, and only then, years of age. began to spring up around the outer ramparts surround­ In his later life William, Earl of Pembroke, was one ing the medieval fortress of its feudal lord. of the most powerful and influential men on the Euro­ The Castle of William Marshall here in Carlow is pro­ pean Scene. He had been born in the reign of King Ste­ bably unique-not for its size, or its strength, or phen, lived through those of Henry II, John and Richard its date, or its architecture-but for the wonderful records and saw the beginning of the reign of Henry III. To all and accounts which are still extant and which show be­ of them he rendered faithful and loyal service. He not yond all doubt the highly evolved system of administra­ only won the affectionate regard of the fickle and faith­ tion and accountancy which enabled the Normans to con­ less King John, but was made one of his Executors and trol the agricultural and economic welfare of most of was subsequently elected Regent of the King and King­ Leinster, from their Castle in Carlow. dom by the Royalist Barons in 1216. As a soldier he had When William Marshall died he was buried in the gone to Palestine on the Crusades and he had fought for Church of the Knights Templars in London and at the the King in the wars in France. He was one of the archi­ Graveside Cardinal Langton spoke these words:- tects of the famous Magna Carta, signed by .rutg ·John, and in this rebellious and treacerous era he managed to "Lords, you see what the life of the world is worth. earn the respect and gratitude of the leaders of all fac­ Behold, All that remains of the best Knight who ever tions throughout the English territories which stretched lived. from the Appenines to the Pyrenees. We have here our mirror, you and I. Let each man say his paternoster that God may re­ ceive this Christian into his Glory and place GOD AND THE MARSHALL Before John's death he sent word to William, the him among His faithful vassals, as he so well de­ serves." Marshall that he, John, placed his eldest son Henry in God's keeping and the Marshalls. "Beg the Marshall", he whispered, "to forgive me the wrongs I have done him. He has always served me loyally and never acted against me no matter what I did or what I said." On the death of John not long afterwards the nine year old Henry, in the Abbey Church of Gloucester, was crowned King of England and Ireland and half of France, with a gold bracelet borrowed from his Mother-and William Marshall, who in fifty years of service "had proved him­ self in time of need as gold is proved in the furnace," de­ clared boldly that he would carry the boy King shoulder high "one leg here and one leg there from land to land" and he would never give in-and it was in fact largely through his Leadership at this perilous moment that a Constitutional Monarchy was at long last achieved and Correction secured. Most of the Norman Barons with Irish Estates were ab­ In my article in Carloviana 1970 "Stone crosses of sentee Landlords in the early years of the thirteenth Cen­ Co. Carlow" I wrongly stated that the head of the south tury. For William Marshall there was no alternative. cross at Clonmore was missing. It was infact hidden Time and time again he pleaded for Royal leave to visit by nettles and has now, I am glad to say, re-emerged. Ireland and attend to his Irish interests, but he was too much involved in affairs of State, both in England and S. A. FitzMaurice.

34 County Carlow in the last quarter of the eighteenth century The Structure of Politics and Power

By Sister Maura Duggan, M.A., H.D.E.

A PRELIMINARY to any understanding of events and his third son, remained a Catholic and followed the Ken­ movements in the county at this period is some study of mare aristocratic faction of the Catholic Committee. The the leading gentlemen and of the structure of politics and family historian already referred to states that Walter power at local level. The largest estate in county Carlow Kavanagh conformed in order to inherit the property and was the property of the Kavanagh family of Borris, yet that Thomas junior, the eventual heir, conformed when the family appear to have played a relatively minor role, it became obvious that the estate would be his. In point even at county level, in the second half of the eighteenth of fact he was entered at Trinity College in 1784 at the 5 century1. age of seventeen • The family shows a curious ambivalence The Kavanagh estate was praised for its beauty and with regard to religion at this period. The desire to take design by contemporary travellers-one of a few estates advantage of the Octennial Bill of 1768 may have had 6 in the county to .:w.in praise for its resemblance to the some influence • And the assertion of thei,: power by the English country park of the period and the only estate country gentlemen ten years later may have inclined the in county Carlow to come under this heading. As the most family more firmly towards the Established Church. The ancient Gaelic landowners in the county-Ryan traced Borris . Volunteers associated in 1779 under Colonel their ancestry back to 'Bratha a Scythian Prince' who set­ Kavanagh and this at a time prior to the opening of the tled in Ireland at a date unknown B.C.2-one would have movement to Catholics7-yet Thomas Kavanagh took the 8 expected the political lead in the county to come from Test Oath in 1775 • The family link with the Catholics them whether as members of Parliament or of the Catho­ remained until Morgan's death in 1804. It was noted that lic Committee, depending on their religious allegiance. one of the Volunteer Corps-Mr. Cavanagh's (sic) 'was 9 Sometime in the latter half of the century the process entirely composed of Catholics ... he himself is one • of conforming to the Established Church began in the In the 1790's the efforts of the family to regain a foot­ family, thus raising doubts as to where their fundamental hold in the political world was more obvious as they allegiance lay, and this is an era when religion and politics began unsuccessfully to challenge elections in the country. were very closely aligned. Thomas Kavanagh junior finally became member for the Notes compiled by a member of the family for the pur­ city of Kilkenny in 1798 but did not succeed in represent­ pose of writing a history of the Kavanaghs intimate that ing county Carlow until towards the end of the second the reason for conforming to the Established Church was decade of the nineteenth century. Wakefield noted in the simple motive of preserving the family property. In 1809 that the slur of conforming still clung to the family. actual fact the steady pattern of conforming did not assert By 1826, however, the county was open to them. They itself until the position of Catholic landowners was fairly were accepted as fully fledged Protestants sympathetic to secure. Bryan Kavanagh, who was the first of the family the Catholic cause. A marriage alliance with the wealthy to live in Borris House, county Carlow-then a much less Bruen family of Oak Park probably helped them to arrive 10 pretentious building than the present nineteenth century politically • Wakefield noted that the 'common people' 3 11 extension-died in 1741 in the Catholic faith • His son called Walter Kavanagh the 'Monarch' • Certainly the and heir Thomas was a Catholic at the time of his mar­ sobriquet 'Monarch' was used to family letters, and in a riage in 1755 as is attested by his marriage licence.'. half playful way Thomas Kavanagh was congratulated on Thomas had four sons and seems to have reversed the the birth of his eldest son: '. . . wish you and Mrs. process common in the small Catholic landowning class Kavanagh joy of having a fine young prince as your friends of evading the penal measure of gavelkind by seeing to call him here. . . .12 On the continent members of the it that the son and heir became a Protestant. Thomas family had achieved positions of some importance in the Kavanagh senior seems to have determined to have one courts of Austria and Prussia and in Italy. A desire to son represent the family on the Catholic side. Morgan, restore the old social and political ascendancy at home

35 may also have motivated the change in religion. But the Parliament's right to choose its own regent, during the process proved an evolutionary one and the benefits were illness which rendered George III incapable of acting as 23 not reaped to any considerable extent during the lifetime sovereign • The king recovered unexpectedly-too sud­ of the Irish Parliament. denly for the Opposition to cover their traces. The Meantime a family new to the county and of English Ponsonbys refused to make terms with Buckingham­ origin had usurped the place of the Kavanagh's even to John Ponsonby had been considered a man of no art or the extent of enjoying the title of 'monarch' of the county cunning-their Burton cousins stood by them and they 13 24 Carlow • The Burton family represented county Carlow too lost their Government places • The main preoccupa­ from the beginning of the reign of George III until the tion of the Ponsonbys in the 1790's was not merely to Act of Union14. The first Burtons settled in Ireland in 1610 return to office but to do so with such force as to oust and could trace their family tree back at least as far as the ruling junto in Dublin Castle headed by Fitzgibbon 25 the reign of Edward IV of England. Burke notes that and supported by the Beresford clan • There were family Benjamin Burton purchased the estate which was to be precedents for such a policy. known as Burton Hall and some other lands in Carlow The Ponsonbys were conscious of their tradition of from the trustees of the forfeited estates by deed dated political leadership. John Ponsonby had been speaker of 15 26th September 1712 • A marriage deed shows the Burtons the House of Commons and First Commissioner of the 16 in possession of the Carlow property as early at 1708 • Revenue. Lord Townshend's arrival in Ireland in October Burton was an eminent Dublin banker and had been 1767 was a brief to establish a system of Government 17 educated at Eton and Trinity College, Dublin • He was independent of the Undertakers put Ponsonby power in Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1706 and represented the city jeopardy. Ponsonby and Shannon, brothers-in-law, went 18 in Parliament on four occasions between 1703 and 1743 • into opposition over the Augmentation Bill and Townshend 26 The family interest in political life was thus firmly estab­ determined to break them • He managed to buy his way lished. His political interests in Carlow were first nursed through opposition to the Money Bill of 1769 and the for him by his banking partner, Francis Harrison, who Address to the King following this victory contained a 19 was member for County Carlow in 1715 • passage 'thanking the king for continuing Lord Townshend His grandson, Benjamin Burton the second, put the in ye Government of Ireland.' Ponsonby's dramatic action seal of success on the family political fortunes by his was the measure of his defeat (or perhaps that of his marriage in 1734 with Anne, second surviving daughter wife by whom he was reputed to be advised and she was of Brabazon, Earl of Bessborough, thus linking the family considered 'very vain and rediculous'). On the day the 20 with the ambitious and powerfully connected Ponsonbys • Address was to be presented 'Mr. Ponsonby wrote the He represented the Borough of Knocktopher before his Commons word, he could not reconcile it to his humour election in 1761 for county Carlow and was a member to be the instrument of presenting such an address and of the Privy Council and a Commissioner on the Board desired they might choose a new speaker.' It was con­ of Revenue. These appointments were very Jikely due to cluded 'on the whole, Lord Townshend seems to have got his Ponsonby connections for this was the age of the a complete victory and Mr. Ppnsonby lost himself and 27 powerful Undertakers, a small group of men of whom his family about six thousand pounds a year • And the John Ponsonby was one, who held the patronage of the Burtons having benefited from the ascendancy of their country in the palm of their hands. Burton's son William Ponsonby cousins, were closely involved in their political was Paymaster of Foreign Regiments in 1789. The latter fluctuations. had been appointed a governor of the county on 6th Faced with the choice between limited political office October 1767 and the Borough of Carlow was Burton and opposition, Ponsonby followed the whig tradition of property. One can see with what justification Farrell called refusing to countenance what they considered unconsti­ Burton 'the King of the County Carlow' for his influence tutional exercise of the royal power and accordingly 21 was much wider than that of sovereign of the Borough • renounced his six thousand a year in a gesture of defiance Farrell gives the impression that the Burton family of his and a position in the House of Commons which was youth were popular and highly respected and entered fully growing in importance as the Parliament grew in self­ into the small social activities of the ordinary people as consequence. For the remainder of the century the Pon­ for instance the old Maypole celebrations. Farrell recalls sonbys in an age with opposition and 'patriotism' tended five May poles erected by the gentry in easy reach of the to be equated, struggled for the privileges of Parliament town of Carlow. and incidentally for a removal of their own. There were As was common in the eighteenth century, the borough occasional truces with Government28 and John Ponsonby was considered private property and a sound financial made a bid for the Speakership when Pery resigned investment. Unless required for a member of the family, unexpectedly though he was six years older than the out­ 29 the Carlow Borough was auctioned to the highest bidder going man • And in 1790 his son William Ponsonby made though the right to bond the purchaser to vote as the a bid for the same position when Parliament met for the 30 Burtons wished was frequently reserved. Strict bonding first time after the Regency affair • The torch had been was not always possible but it was customery with the passed on. Burtons to see that they sold to a 'friend' .22 And by the Unfortunately the Ponsonby ambitions, the year of the 1790's the Burtons were definitely in opposition in Regency crisis coincided with the outbreak of the French Parliament. Their Ponsonby cousins, pressing the whig Revolution. Since an opposition necessarily has to have understanding of the 1782 Dungannon Convention and some platform, the Irish opposition made a limited Parlia­ 81 subsequent legislation as Ireland's 'Glorious Revolution' mentary Reform one of their planks • Another, less to were among those who had asserted in 1798 the Irish their taste was gradually foisted on them, that of full civil

36 and political rights for the Roman Catholics, who com­ The second representative of the county in Parliament prised the greater part of the population. Unfortunately during the eighteenth century was most frequently a for those mild reformers, because of events in France, the member of the Butler family of Garryhunden and Ballin­ mildest and most essential reforms gave rise to miscon­ temple. Members of the family had been returned for the ceptions and their advocates could be neatly tainted as county as early as 1639. Sir Thomas Butler, grandson of disturbers of the peace, Jacobins, or any other such epithet the first Baronet, was returned for the county as early as which would undermine them. And young liberals and 1639. Sir Thomas Butler, grandson of the first Baronet, budding radicals looked hopefully to such as Grattan and was returned for the county in 1692 'and every succeed­ Ponsonby for leadership in what they felt was a new era. ing baronet of the family, down to the Union, represented 36 The sound self-interested whigs found themselves receiv­ the County in Parliament' • True as this account is as a ing overtures from potential republicans such as Wolfe general statement, it carefully omits those occasions when Tone and even eating dinners with Napper Tandy. the Butler family was superceded by more powerful or It was only in moments of crisis that gentlemen of the affluent families. The Burtons proved the first real chal­ Burton class played a role in the affairs of the country lenge, when in 1715 Burton's banking partner took the at large. Normally they were concerned with affairs at place of Butler in Parliament. In 1729 a Burton and Butler home, the meetings of the grand jury, their role as magi­ were returned for the county and so the pattern continued strates. They used Parliament as the vehicle for projects until Beauchamp Bagnal, famous duellist and then one of such as the Barrow Navigation scheme-projects which the wealthiest landowners in the county, decided to chal­ would be to the advantage of the county and to them­ lenge_ Butler security in the county in 1769 and break up selves in particular. Perhaps because the Regency crisis what had been a marriage of convenience if nothing had touched their pockets so closely, William Burton is deeper: listed as one of the original members of the whig club 'Beauchamp Bagenal came in here by his own interest which was formed 26th June 1789, thus aligning them­ and spirit, the Burtons supported the Butlers of this selves socially and politically with the elite of the county who opposed his agent Thomas Gurly being 38 country • made a Justice of the Peace, but he fought Butler and With the new political tension in the air the sale of the frightened the Burtons who now worship him as the Borough seats was of particular importance to Burton in Egyptians do the S.C.'37 that the highest bidder alone was not sufficient recom­ mendation. In all available parliamentary lists from 1760 Certainly Butler rir not attempt to contest this election. the Burtons of Carlow are noted as supporting the inter­ Election fanciers were able to predict that Bagenal 33 38 ests of their Ponsonby cousins • Yet one contemporary would not seek election in 1783 -his exit line from writer while aware. of this fact expressed some doubt as Parliamentary affairs was the proposal that the Parliament to the inevitability of their support, knowing that private mark its indebtedness to Grattan for his role in the con­ interest was the primary factor where the disposal of the stitutional victory of 1782 by presenting him with the 39 Borough seats was concerned. means .ro purchase a fitting estate • Assured of Bagenal's 'In this Borough the Burton interest is not only retirement, Butler could safely claim what he considered predominant but omnipotent. From the close connection was his birthright and address the county-'Encouraged of this family with the Ponsonbys, whose great object by a grateful sense of honours heretofore conferred upon 40 has long been to command a powerful party in the my ancestors .. .' • House of Commons, it might be expected that their The Butlers were not much concerned with the broader friends would be uniformly returned for it. But the fact field of politics and were more typical of .the average 41 is otherwise. It always goes to the highest bidders. independent country gentlemen • Sir Richard's place as 34 Who they will be at the next election no one can tell' • representative of the county was only assured so long as no resident gentleman with a more powerful personality However, in this particular sale, Burton support for or a better stocked purse opposed him. He could with­ the Ponsonbys was not lost in the interests of commerce stand the challenge from Walter Kavanagh of Borris, John but because of the difficulty of being sure of the pur­ Staunton Rochfort of Clogrennan, Philip Newton, and even chaser's political leanings in an age when 'party' system the might of La Touche purse. For together with those was in embryo. Burton sold a seat to Augustus Cavendish above named, David La Touche junior of the famous 42 Bradshaw, second son of Sir Henry Cavendish, thinking banking house addressed the county in 1796 • 35 that 'he was selling to a friend' • Bradshaw, however, But Henry Bruen of Oak Park, newly settled in the supported Government. One can only imagine Burton's county, presented precisely the kind of challenge Butler chagrin. His error of judgment is easily understood since could not withstand. Wealthy, popular, liberal, resource­ 3 Bradshaw's father was an original member of the whig ful, Bruen very quickly entrenched himself in the county4 • club and family, rather than party, was usually the strong­ He had purchased Painstown, the estate of a childless er bond in politics. gentleman named Mr. Cooke, which he named Oak Park Fortunately for Burton the second purchaser followed cf 1785. His status in the county was not that of a the opposition: 'Mr. Vandeleur opposes. I know not whet­ parvenu, despite the fact that he had made his own for­ her he has attached himself to any party. I rather believe tune-'an immense fortune' and in the American wars ... to the Ponsonbys.' This comment of an informed contem­ 'from nothing' in the Quarter Master's Department44. porary of Vandeleur reflects once again the looseness of Until his death in 1795 Bruen represented the county with party politics despite the heat generated following the Burton. Butler addressed the county in 1790 but did not Regency crisis. contest the election. Like so many of the landed gentry,

37 the original grant of land in Ireland was made to Bruen's The families just mentioned represent the chief resi­ grandfather in return for his services in Cromwell's army. dent landowners of the county. Among those whom Ryan He had settled at Abbeyfoyle, Co. Roscommon. The money listed with the Bruens as 'respectable' though more recent 52 with which to climb further up the social ladder came settlers was a Faulkner family • Their Carlow property again from wars. In 1787 Colonel Henry Bruen married was relatively small-about 400 acres but they owned Dorethea, second daughter of Francis Knox of Rappa property here and there in the country-Wellbrooke in Castle, Co. Mayo, a family with extensive connections.45 the North, Fort Faulkner in County Wicklow as well as Colonel Bruen took an independent stand in politics. the Castletown estate in Carlow53. Their source of income, He began his political career 'generally in opposition' and however, was their capacity as attorney and agents for 46 that remained the pattern • Those who tried to assess landowners. They sometimes acted as Bankers for their the motivation of members of parliament could never clients and had premises at 84 Stephen's Green quite 7 quite resolve his position' • When he first entered Parlia­ near the Whaley town house for whom they acted as ment as member for county Carlow it was thought he guardian and attorney54. The Carlow property was bought 48 'might be had for a peerage' • By 1791 Bruen was not from the Whaleys and by the early 1790's they were only member for county Carlow but was also the patron engaged in making the dwelling house a suitable country of two Boroughs: Duleek and Taghmon. There was even home. Samuel, the head of the family, spent much of his mention of a Bruen Party-such small splinterings were time in Dublin and in travelling on behalf of his clients. 49 not unusual at the opening of the decade • Bruen was an His brother Hugh, who had earlier tried to launch a linen elected member of the Whig Club as was his father-in­ industry in Wellbrooke, County Tyrone, settled at Castle­ law50. He seems to have been in opposition through town a few miles from the town of Carlow about 1794 conviction, and enjoyed the political freedom which his and devoted his energies to farming the newly acquired wealth gave him. He was not among the job hunters estate. Sam and Hugh were deeply devoted to each other dangling a price before the Government, however dis­ and kept up an almost daily correspondence. The picture creetly. It is a comment on the period, that a distinterested Farrell draws of life in the country at the end of the stand was found puzzling. Bruen died in 1795 at the age eighteenth century can be supplemented by the Faulkner of fifty-five and the old pattern of Burton and Butler as papers. Prior to Hugh's arrival in the county, Samuel's county members was restored. steward at Castletown kept him in touch not only with Among the contestants for Parliamentary seats in matters of business but also commented on current events. county Carlow in the 1790's was, as has already been While engaged in improvements in their Carlow property mentioned, the Rochfort family of Clogrennan. They were they made contact with local artisans and tradesmen a family of long standing in the county and had perhaps some of whose names later appear in the official papers reached the peak of their achievement a century earlier in Farrell's memoir. William Farrell's signature appears when John Rochford was Speaker for the House of Com­ on a rather whimsical bill-'to a collar for a bear ...'.' mons. They frequently addressed the county in the Of more immediate relevance however is a nephew of eighteenth century and contested elections' in 178J,- 1795 the Faulkners, Robert Cornwall of Mayshall Lodge, County and, in Wexford, 1797. John Staunton Rochfort ultimately Carlow, an attorney who was engaged in the Faulkner represented the Borough of Fore in Westmeath for the business which was a very small family agair. His Ietters55 last year of the Irish Parliament (a borough just then to his uncles portray him as dull and cautious, a keen acquired by Lord Downshire). Although for long without man of business but one of little social or political rele­ parliamentary status, the family were governors of the vance. It is his letters and reports to Dublin Castle and county, members of the Grand Jury, the magistracy, had from 1797 to the end of the century, in his role as magi­ held the High Sheriffship, and in general were a family strate, that are of interest. Hugh Faulkner's letters show of distinction. The unrest in the county towards the end the influence on him of his sojourn in the North. His of the century which was to culminate in 1798 in an sympathies were with the early radical movement there attempt at rebellion brought the family into prominence and he numbered among his friends Dr. Reynolds, Dr. once again as they organised a counter movement to Caldwell of Magherfelt, the Rev. Mr. Glardy, a Presby­ protect the county. terian Minister whom he felt were treated very unjustly 56 The Browne family of Browne's Hill, the farming of by the Government • His nephew, on the contrary, repre­ whose estate was highly recommended by contemporary sented all that was orthodox and law abiding. His letters travellers, are something of an enigma at this period. to the Castle are a crescendo of alarm in a situation Much of their attention was perhaps focussed on their where he sees himself fighting singlehanded the forces considerable property in Carlow, Kildare, and Dublin. of sedition. In 1795 he was elected member for the William Browne sat for the Borough of Portarlington from borough of Enniscorthy. To cast Cornwall in the role of 1791 to 1796, and in 1791 just after the Regency debacle illiberal in a county of moderate political reformers would he was considered a possible follower of the Ponsonby be to misinterpret the facts. He was not unfavourable 51 party • Browne was High Sheriff for the county in 1794 towards the Catholic cause, and was one of a minority but on the whole remains a shadowy figure in county who voted in their favour 4 May 1795 57 and had given a affairs. At the odd county meeting which he was noted plot of ground for the erection of a chapel to the Catholics 58 as attending, he seems to have supported the Burtons of his parish • and this quasi alliance was sealed in the following cen­ In the long run there was very little actual difference tury by a marriage between William Browne's daughter in day to day affairs between a Cornwall and a Burton. and William Fitzwilliam Burton, son of Benjamin Hurton On major constitutional issues they normally swung into of Burton Hall. party gear and formed political poles. In time of emer-

38 gency-threatened invasion or rebellion-as distinct from great and rich towards the poor and lowly, on these a political crisis they all spoke the same language. topics he always experessed himself with ardour, and The odd man out in the county was a new arrival, Sir often in the presence of those who felt themselves Edward Crosbie, who did not catch the subtle nuances galled.' familiar to those in long residence and, as will appear later, paid for this lack of discernment with his life. As the decade progressed and French collusion was seen Crosbie leased the property to Viewmount, County Car­ in every expression of liberal opinion, this attitude 'attach­ low, from Robert Browne of Browne's Hill, probably ed to him the character of a disaffected republican.' 5 about 1792 '. The two properties in fact adjoined one In the Spring of 1798 a difference arose between Crosbie another. He was the eldest son of Sir Paul Crosbie of and one of the younger Burtons and as a consequence a 68 Crosby Park in County Wicklow, a baronet of Nova duel was fought • On the morning of the duel, Crosbie's 69 Scotia. Since 177 4 various members of the family were friend, the Rev. Robert Robinson , expressed his appre­ noted on the Civil List as reviewing a pension during hensions that the duel would be imputed to politics and King's pleasure. Sir Edward received one hundred and not to differences between gentlemen on a point of hon­ fifty pounds per annum, his brother Richard-a noted our. Robinson feared for Crosbie's good name should 60 61 balloonist -fifty pounds • Crosbie was entered at Trinity the duel prove fatal for him, because he knew 'he had in 1770 at the age of fifteen as a fellow Commoner, took the name of being a republican.' In what could, perhaps, 62 his B.A. in 1774 and was called to the Irish Bar in 1778 • have been his epitaph in the event of his death on that In 1790 he married Castiliana, widow of Captain Dodd63 occasion, Crosbie entreated his friend to clear his name and shortly afterwards moved to Carlow. of any such imputation .... He took up residence in Carlow at a time of political agitation and general feverishness due to the impact of "as I am a steady friend of the constitution of King, the French Revolution. He seems to have held aloof socially Lords, Commons, with Parliamentary reform and the 70 and became neither a Yeomanry officer nor a magistrate. striking of the rotton Boroughs'. Nor was he ever a member of Parliament though he was thus described as early as 179964 and the error had been These were surely the tenets of the sound doctrine of the 65 Burton cousins undiluted with any mention of Catholic repeated even in a very recent work • Lecky described 66 emancipation. When Crosbie found himself on trial for Crosbie as 'a liberal in the school of Grattan' • A per­ sonal friend summed up his political sentiments as his life, during the course of the rebellion of 1798, for follows: 67 alleged conspiracy, it was falsely stated against him that he was a sworn member of the Whig Club' .71 What had 'On two grand points he was warm. One was, he been a symbol of devotedness to the con~titution for the thought this kingdom was governed by Great Britain leading gentlemen of the county at the beginning of the rather as a colony than as a federal state. The other decade, was now reduced to the level of a recruiting was that his noble heart spurned at the hauteur of the agency for United Irishmen.

1 Wakefield, op. cit., vol. II, p.598. 14 1767 was the only year a Burton did not personally represent 2 John Ryan, The History and Antiquities of the County of the county. Benjamin Burton died that year, his son-in-law, Carlow (Dublin, 1833), p.365. John Hyde, replaced him: Ryan, p.293; Carlow Parliament· 3 Paper relating to the history of the Kavanagh family, includ­ ary Rolls, p.21. For Genealogy see Appendix E. ing a general history by G. Kavanagh Mainwaring, 1932 15 The Book of Postings and Sales of Forfeited Estates in Ire· (N.L.I., MS 8049). land· 1700-1703. (Rare Book Collection, N.L.I.), records the 4 Notes relating to the Kavanagh family in the 17th and 18th sale of a property in County Limerick to Alderman Benj. centuries, compiled by G. Kavanagh Mainwaring from papers Burton, 22nd April 1703. in Borris House. C.1930 (N.L.I., MS 5972). 16 Deed and Lease and Release, No. 209, Registry of Deeds, 5 Alumni Dubl., p.452. Dublin. 6 Rev. John Brady, 'Catholics and Catholicism in the Eighteenth 17 Alumni Dubl., p.119. Century Press', Archiv. Hib., vol. 17, p.131: Comment on 18 Burke, Landed Gentry, 1958. the numbers who had conformed to the Established Church. 19 Ryan, op. cit. p.293; Carlow Parliamentary Roll, p.17. .... 'to have the benefit of freeholders to vote at any ensuing 20 Georges Dames Burtchaell, Kilkenny Members of Parliament ele<:tio? for members of Parliament, and to be on Grand (Dublin, 1888), pp. 50-1. Junes. 21 Farrell, pp. 22-3. Volunteers' Companion (Dublin, 1784), p.v. 22 John Robert Scott (Falkland), The Parliamentary Repres· 8 Faulkner's Dublin Journal, 9 December 1775 'John Roch­ sentation being a political and critical review of all the fort of Clogrennan, Esq., one of the Governors of County Counties, Cities and Boroughs of the Kingdom of Ireland Carlow . . . met at the house of Thomas Kavanagh, Esq., with regard to their representation (Dublin, 1790), p.60. of Borris ... and administered the test oath appointed by 23 Parliamentary Register 1789, p.22 Lecky, Ire., vol. III, pp. Act of Parliament to be taken by the Roman Catholics of this 78-9. Kingdom, to the Rev. Dr. Keeffe and his clergy. Thomas 24 Henry Grattan, Memoirs of the life and times (London, 1839- Kavanagh, Esq.; Walter and James Blakeney, Esqrs. and 46), vol. III, p.390; Edith M. Johnston, 'The State of the the rest of the laity of that neighbourhood, in all about Irish House of Commons in 1791, P.R.I.A., 59C, p.18. thirty.' 25 W. Beresford, ed., The Correspondence of the Right Hon. 9 'Returns of Volunteer Corps with private observations' .T ohn Beresford, illustrative of the last thirty years of the (N.M.I., MS 22A-1938). Irish Parliament, London, 1854, 2 vols., p.l, 9th April, 10 Robert Malcomson, The Carlow Parliamentary Roll (Dublin, 1789, a polite exchange of letters between Marcus Beresford 1 782), p.35. Gor Genealogy see Appendix E, No. 1. and George Ponsonby when the former replaced Ponsonby 11 Wakefield, op. cit., vol. II, pp. 598-99. ;,s First Counsel to the Revenue. 12 Kavanagh Papers, N.L.I., MS 8049. Copy of letter dated 8 26 Lecky, Ire., vol. iii. p.95, 3rd May 1768, Townshen to October 1758, also letters dated 1779, 82, 84 (N.L.I., MS Shelbourne; p. l 02 and following. The Irish Parliament never 8049). accepted the right claimed by the English Government of 13 Farrell, p.23. originating Money Bills.

39 I~

27 Lord Annaly to the Bishop of Derry, 12th Mar. 1771 'The fame of Bruen's patriotism had reached London before (P.R.O.N.I., D 1514 '80). McCracken points out that Pon­ I left it'. On 13 November Bruen had voted for the reduc­ sonby resigned ostensibly to avoid presenting the Address tion of the number of men for the defence of Ireland. but that Lord Charlemont believed that fear of dismissal 47 Scott, op. cit., p.80. The Rams sold their interest in the and consciousness of a dwindling party were the determining Borough of Duleek for £10,000. Scott had high expectations factors in his decision. (J. L. McCracken, 'The Irish Vice­ for the Borough now, as Bruen's liberality of mind and royalty, 1760-73' in Essays in British and Irish History in ~erious public spirit were known and acknowledged ... 'he honour of James Eadie Todd (London, 1949), p.166. 1s too nch to sell ... of too worthy a nature to prostitute 28 Lord Carli~le to Lord Gower, 23rd Nov. 1781, boasting that his interest.' he had 'umted all the great interests and factions in support 48 Johnston, P.R.I.A., 59C p.19. 49 Johnston, P.R.I.A., 59C p.54. of Government: the Duke of Leinster, the Lords Shannon, 50 Ely, Donegall, Tyrone, the Ponsonbies .. .' (HMC., Carlisle, Grattan, op. cit., vol. iii, p.433. 51 15th Report, Appendix Part vii Ref. 534). Johnston, P.R.I.A., 59C p.39. 29 52 Ryan op. cit., p.375. John Lees to Eden, 5th Sept. 1785 (B.M., Add. MS. 34420/ 53 101/-2). I am indebted to Mr. Anthony Malcolmson Faulkner Papers (by kind courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. John P.R.O.N.1., for this reference. ' Monahan, Castletown, Co. Carlow. 30 54 Faulkner Papers. Grattan, op. cit., vol. iv., pp.25-6. 55 31 ibid., vol. iii, pp. 378-9: A Reform of the Dublin Police a Faulkner Papers. 56 Pensions Bill, a Place Bill. ' ibid. In a letter dated 19 March 1793 he urged his brother Note: The following observations were made on the Pon­ to do something for them as the latter two were both 'his sonby Party before the new Parliament opened : 'This party brother Masons' and Reynolds was 'the son of an old neigh­ is made up entirely of connections, Mr. Ponsonby having bour, an honest and respectable man . . .'. He begged but two seats that he can Actually rely upon. I question Samuel also to enlist the advice and assistance of their whether he could carry this party with him into power nephew Cornwall. Other letters on the same theme. 57 Hibernian Journal, 12 May 1795. because it would not be in his power to gratify them accord­ 58 ing to their expectations .. .' (Edith M. Johnston (ed.), The Faulkner Papers: Robert Cornwall to Samuel Faulkner, Carlow 1786, mentions erecting a chapel in his grounds. State of the Irish House of Commons in 1791.' P.R.I.A., 59 59C p.51). Finn's Leinster Journal: The lease of the estate was adver­ 32 Grattan, op. cit., vol. iii, p.432. tised for some weeks that year .(1792). 60 Walker's Hibernian Magazine, Dublin 1785. 33 David Large, ed., 'The Irish House of Commons in 1 769' 61 Parliamentary Register, 1789, p.163 included in account of in I.H.S., vol. xi, p.30; M. Bodkin, ed., 'Notes on the Irish the Civil Pensions and it was noted that the pensions dated Parliament in 1 773', in P.R.I.A. 48C, p.178; William Hunt, from 21 April 1774-cluring pleasure. ed., The Irish Parliament in 1775 (Dublin, 1907), p.9; Heron 62 Alumni Duhl. p.196. Papers, 'The Irish House of Commons 1776-83, N.L.I., MS. 63 Burke's Peerage. 3532; P.R.O.N.I., T.125, C 1779; P.R.O.N.1., T.2627/1/1 64 Biographical anecdotes of the founders of the late Irish l 0 te 1780's; G. 0. Sayles, 'Contemporary sketches of the rebellion impartially written by a candid observer, p.57. Irish Parliament in 1782', in P.R.I.A., 56C, p.236; Edith M. (Pcmphlet first published in London 1799 and reprinted in Johnston, Contemporary sketches of the Members of the Irish Ireland 1901). References in this work are to the 1801 P-rliament in 1791', in P.R.I.A., 59C, p.19. reprint. 34 Scott, op. cit., p.11. 65 J. C. Beckett, The Making of Moth-rn Ireland (London, 35 Johnston, P.R.I.A., 59C, pp. 18-19. 36 1966), p.204. Carlow Parliamentary Roll, p. 7-8. 66 Lecky, Ire., vol. iv, p.336. 37 Bodkin, P.R.I.A., 48C, p. 178. 67 38 A~ accurate and. impartial narrative of the apprehension, 'He will not come into the next Parliament' ('P':R.O:N.1., tnal and execut10n on the 5th June 1798 of Sir E. W. T.1255). 39 Crosbie, with authentic documents (Dublin 1802) p.96. G. 0. Sayles, P.R.1.A., 56C, p. 236. The comment is worth 68 ibid., p.96; Farrell, p.123. ' quoting : 'A man of large fortune and acts independently ... 69 Robert Robinson, ent. T.C.D. 22 May 1767, ed. Dr. Darby, has some parts but is wild and eccentric ... often speaks but Sch. 1769, B.A. 1771; was cur?te Tullow 1771-95. He d. with the most distressing hesitation ... is a celebrated duell­ bef~re 9 ~an. 1817. Rev. J. Leslie, Ossory Clergy and ist. He moved the grant of £50,000 to Mr. Grattan ... is Parishes bemg an account of the Church of Ireland in the supposed to be inclined to Mr. Connolly.' diocese of Ossory, from the earliest period with historical Mi Dublin Evening Post, 1 March 1783. 41 notices of the several parishes, Churches, ;tc. (Enniskillen, Sir Richard Butler, 'Independent' 'Popular' (P.R.O.N.1., 1933), p.201. T.2627 /1/1). 42 Note: Robinson recorded the apprehension he had felt at Finn's Leinster Journal, 5 May 1796. the time of the duel in a letter to Mrs. Boissier, 30 Jan . .a The Kenmare Manuscripts, The Irish Manuscripts Commis­ 1799 (Narrative, p.96). sion (Dublin, 1942), p.81, ed. Edward MacLysaght. 70 44 Narrative, p.97. This abbreviation will be used in future Johnston, op. cit., Cornwallis Correspondence, Charles Ross references to the Narrative of the tried and apprehension of ed. (London, 1859), vol. iii, p.150. Sir E. W. Crosbie. 45 Burke's Landed Gentry, 4th Edition, 1958. For Gene-logy see 71 Ibid., p.40. Author remarks that Crosbie was not a member Appendix E, No. iii. of any club, except the Kildare St. Club in an age when 46 'Henry Bruen, independent, difficult to guess the reason' every man belonged to some club or society. (P.R.O.N.1., T2627 /1/1 Cornwallis Correspondence vol. 1., Note: A more detailed 5tudy of Sir Edward Crosbie will p.150; Cornwallis to Lieut. Col. Ross. 21 November 1783: be made when dealing with the aftermath of rebellion in County Carlow.

40 JOHN AMNESTY NOLAN

By an t·Athair Peadar MacSuibhne1 M.A.

THE NOLANS were the chief family of Co. Carlow. near Ballon. Nolan had been a Fenian organiser in the The Barony of Forth was called Forth O'Nolan after Ballon and Myshall area before the '67 rising and after them. Their headquarters were Ballykealy, where the Pat­ its failure he organised the Amnesty Association of which rician Brothers now are. Their burial place was Ballon, he was secretary. He was a splendid organiser but found on or near the church ruins in the old churchyard. When it difficult to get funds. When he saw the welcome they left Ballykealy they seem to have gone to live in accorded to Lord Spencer he hit on a plan." Thomas P. Killane, where Mr. Simon Kearney now is. Fr. P. C. O'Neill quotes from Michael Davitt's Fall of Feudalism: Nolan, P.P., Rathvilly and his nephew, Fr. Patrick F. "Under these circumstances Amnesty Nolan assembled Nolan, P.P., Ballon, from 1883 to his death in 1894, were his lieutenants and laid this extraordinary proposal be­ born there. In the old churchyard is a stone inscribed fore them: 'We will organise a grand fete in the Exhib­ somewhat as follows-inscription from memory- "On the ition Building, Earlsfort Terrace, under the auspices of requisition of the Rev. Patrick Nolan, P.P., Rathvilly, this the new Lord Lietenant, Earl Spencer. A military band stone was erected to his father's great grandfather's will be got and fashionable Dublin will be induced to father ..... This Nolan family seems to have been clos­ come to meet the vice royal party. The musical program­ ely related to Bishop Edward Nolan 1834-37, and Car­ me, games and other items are of secondary importance. dinal Cullen; the Carinal's aunt was married to Bishop The essential thing is to exploit the new Governor-Gen­ Nolan's uncle. When Bishop Nolan was dying of fever eral and make shoneen Dublin come to the assistance of at Braganza, two Miss Nolans of Killane, near relatives, our funds' And this was done. A benevolent organisa­ went to nurse him. tion of English origin existed in Dublin at the time. The Fr. P. C. Nolan built St. Patrick's Church, Rathvilly; fete was ostensibly to be in furtherance of the highly his nephew built St. Patrick's Church, Rathoe. Hague was laudable objects of this body, the local branch being the architect of both churches. entirely under Nolan's control. He used the offic­ Fr. P. C. Nolan had spent some time on the Dunboyne, ial notepaper of this order for his correspondence with Maynooth and was a man of great culture. He was also Earl Spencer and conducted the negotiations so adroitly a man of peace. His younger brother, John, however, that permission to announce the patronage of the Lord seems to have had a difficult disposition. He was called and Lady Lieutenant was readily obtained ... Thousands "Amnesty" Nolan. Mr. Thomas P. O'Neill told us about were unable to purchase admission. At four in the after­ him in the Irish Press of 1961 and also 16th January, noon the vice-royal party arrived and were received by 1967: "When Lord Spencer arrived in Dublin on this day John Nolan, Patrick Egan and other local Fenian lead­ of 1869 as Lord Lietenant, his entry to the city was quite ers;.·the band playing 'God save the Queen'. The proceeds a pageant. Impressed as he was with the outward dis­ over all expenses added some £500 to the funds of the play of loyalty, he was quite aware of the strong under­ revolutionary movement in Dublin." current of Fenian feeling at the time. The Fenian rising Isaac Butt was the head of the Amnesty Association had failed but there was considerable symaathy with and John Nolan was his most powerful ally. "Amnesty" the prisoners who were undergoing long prison senten­ Nolan left Dublin for New York in 1872 and died in St. ces with severe hardships. The new Lord Lieutenant, Vincent's Hospital in that city in 1882. Davitt refers to however, did not know the ways in which supporters of Nolan's brave, generous and kindly nature, whose mem­ the Fenians might work. A key figure in the principal ory would linger affectionately in the recollections of pro-Fenian organisation was a young man from Killane those who worked with him.

41 Secretary's For the year 1970--'71 Report by Sean O'Leary

and Mr. Matthew O'Neill, Secretary, attended and describ­ ed what had been accomplished in Enniscorthy and gave useful advice on what should be done in Carlow. Later an application was made to Carlow Vocational Educa­ tion Committee for the use of the Vocational School in Dublin Street but were informed that the building now belonged to the Co. Council. On further inquiry it was learned that the building, when vacated, would be used to house the Co. Library or the Engineering De­ partment of the Council. Very Rev. Fr. T. Brophy, was then asked if he would give the Old Schools in College Street for use as a Museum. He said he would favourably consider the application but could not decide until the schools were vacated by the Vocational Committee, pro­ bably in December 1971. Thanks to the generosity of Mr. Kevin Kennedy a spacious store has been secured in Centaur Street in which we have accumulated quite a number of exhibits for the Museum. We hope that with the dawn of 1972 Carlow will at last have a Museum worthy of the town and county.

WINTER SESSION: On 3rd December, 1970, Miss M. T. Kelly gave a de­ lightful talk entitled "Out and About Carlow." In her discourse she dealt with buildings and streets in the town which have either entirely disappeared or have been completely changed. With her marvellous knowledge of local history Miss Kelly gave us a picture of what Car­ low was like a hundred or more years ago. She recalled people who were outstanding in their day but whose names are now almost forgotten. At the present time when Carlow is changing so rapidly it was refreshing to Carlovians at Caernarvon Castle, Wales, Summer, 1971 hear of those peaceful days before the motor car had driven the horse and the donkey, the pedestrian and the THE YEAR '70-'71 has been a very successful one for the playing children from our streets. Old Carlow Society. Membership steadily increased, fin­ On 26th January, 1971, Mr. Brendan Kealy B.A., H.Dip. ancial position is sound, crowded attendance at the win­ gave a talk entitled "Carlow from the Stone Age to the pre­ ter lectures and for the summer outings extra transport sent day." All were agreed that this was one of the finest had to be provided to accommodate the large numbers lectures given to the Society. It was illustrated by a mag­ desirous of taking part. Gratifying are the numbers of nificent series of coloured slides taken by Mr. Kealy him­ young people joining the Society and the growing in­ self. In his talk he dealt with the ecclesiastical, mili­ terest in the activities of the 0.C.S. by the general pub­ tary and residential buildings in Co. Carlow from the lic. So in this our Silver Jubilee Year we may look for­ very earliest times to the present day. The lecturer had ward with confidence to the future. arranged his subject matter very skilfully and his Unfortunately to date we have not got the Museum delightful delivery charmed his audience. It is not sur­ for which we have so long looked forward. On 19th prising that Mr. Kealy has been asked to repeat his November, 1970 we had a Special General Meeting talk in November for the benefit of those who already which was attended by prominent people in the County. heard it and for those who unfortunately missed it. Rev. Fr. Scallon, Curator of the Enniscorthy Museum On 11th March, 1971, Mr. Barry Raftery, M.A., Lee-

42 turer in Archaeology in U.C.D., gave a talk illustrated who was respected and loved by all. by slides entitled "The Excavations at Rathgall." As Secretary, Sean O'Leary, in his report reviewed the Mr. Raftery is the Director of the elaborate excavations various activities during the year-the outings, the lec­ which are being carried out in Rathgall it was most in­ tures, etc. structive to learn how carefully and methodically this Treasurer, T. Smyth, reported the finances in a very work is carried on, how conclusions can be drawn from sound position despite rising costs. the various finds and how it is possible to ascertain the Edi.tor, E. Brophy said the cost of production of Car­ mode of life in that area in the Stone, Bronze and later loviana continued to rise and he was afraid that the price periods. Mr. Rafferty showed what a wonderful help aerial of the journal would have to be increased. He regret­ photos are in locating these pre-historic dwellings. The ted too the shortage of contributors-as he said, without members look forward to the day when Mr. Raftery will ccntributors there would be no journal. take them on a tour of that pre-historic site. On the proposition of Mr. John Moriarty, N.T., The final talk of the Winter Session was given by Mr. M.C.C., it was decided that the annual subscription be Victor Hadden on 25th March, 1971, who dealt with increased to 15 I - as from the 1st April, 1972. "Colourful and Compelling Characters in the Chronicles A proposal to increase fee for advertisements in Car­ of Co. Carlow." The three famous persons dealt with loviana was referred to Committee. Later Committee de­ were: William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke (who built Car­ cided that the charges be £10 for full page; £5 for half low Castle); Sir Peter Carew, a colourful person in the page and £2.50 for quarter page. 16th century and Beauchamp Bagnal, known as King Bag­ Various outings for the summer months were arranged. nal of Dunleckney Manor, who died in 1801. Mr. Had­ The Chairman presented the prizes to the winners in den had compiled an immense amount of information the Essay Competition and congratulated them on their about these men from the writings of those who knew success. them personally and in his talk they ceased to be just The officers and committee elected are listed on another names in a history book but real virile people with page. all the good qualities and frailties of human nature. The three were outstanding figures and for different reasons OUTINGS in the History of the Barrow Valley. BOYNE: On Sunday, 30th May 50 members spent the day in GODFREY MEMORIAL ESSAY COMPETITION: the Boyne Valley. On the way they visited an exhibition This competition was very successful and the stand­ of work in St. Martin's College of Domestic Science ard of the essays extremely high. There were 23 entries. near Navan. In Navan they were met by Mrs. Hickey of The adjudicators· were Very Rev. P. J. Brophy, Mrs. B. Meath Archaeological Society, who conducted them to FitzMaurice and Mrs. Ray McDonnell. The winners the historic Hill of Slane, the Tumulus at Newgrange, the were:- birthplace of the famous Fenian John Boyle O'Reilly, the Burial Chamber at Dowth, the Scene of the Battle of the Pre Intermediate Class Boyne and the magnificent ruins of the Cistercian Mon­ First Prize £5, Lilly O'Neill, Browneshill Road (Pres­ astery at Mellifont. In Drogheda members visited the entation Convent)-"Pollacton House and its Owners" Shrine of Blessed Oliver Plunkett, the unique Francis­ can Church and the famous St. Laurence Gate. Second Prize £3, Mary White, Tullow Street (Mercy Convent)-"St. Clare's Church." WALES: On 20th June for the first time in the history of the Post Intermediate Class Society upwards of 40 members left Ireland to spend the First Prize £5, Jean Comerford, Bestfield (Presenta­ day in North Wales. Crossing by car-ferry from Dun­ tion Convent)-"I visited Braganza" laoire the party attended Mass in St. Mary's Church, Holyhead. A Welsh coach with courier took the party Second Prize £3, Veronica Webster, Lock House (Pres­ through Anglesey and across the famous Menai Bridge entation Convent)-"Carlow and its Castle" to Caernarvon. After lunch there the party visited the famous Castle built in 1283 and were very impressed by The plaque for the best essay in the competition was the manner in which the edifice is so perfectly preserved awarded to Jean Comerford. It is to be hoped that by the National Trust. Thence through awe-inspiring there will be a much increased entry for future competi­ Llanberis Pass, by the huge slate quarries now closed tions. and by towering Snowdon to Betws-y-Coed with its won­ derful Swallow Falls. Then through the picturesque coun­ ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING tryside to the leading Welsh seaside resort, Llandudno. The Annual General Meeting was held on 22nd April, Among other things the party saw the Memorial to 1971. Chairman, Alec Burns, said the year had been a Lewis Carroll who wrote "Alice in Wonderland" there. most successful one for the Society and it was very On the return journey to Holyhead the party saw in pleasing to see it going from strength to strength. Conway the mighty Castle towering over the Conway He paid a well-deserved tribute to the late Harry Fen­ River and the town walls still completely intact. Then nell who for years was Chairman of the O.C.S. and was on to Bangor with its University and Cathedral and then always one of its most active members. Mr. Burns said back to the boat and to Carlow. the late Mr. Fennell was a perfect Christian gentleman The members were delighted with a day spent under 43 ideal weather conditions among the mountains and val­ The Chapel Royal) and were very impressed with the leys of Cymru. Irish Oak carvings, the ornate ceiling, the magnificent east window and the elaborate pews formerly reserved WICKLOW: for kings and viceroys. On 4th July, 90 members spent a delightful afternoon Next on the itinerary was the restored Tailors' Hall, in The Garden of Ireland. Proceeding thro' Tullow to where Mr. Graham, Secretary of Dublin Archaeological Soc­ Aughrim they were met by Mr. P. Doran of Wexford Ar­ iety gave the history of the Guild of Tailors. chaeological Society who gave a graphic account of hap­ On the homeward journey St. Mary's Dominican Friary penings in that district in 1798 and 1803. Thence in Tallaght was visited. Bro. Paul showed the party over through Woodenbridge and the Meeting of the Waters to the building and grounds and gave them the history of Avondale birthplace of C. S. Parnell now a training cen­ the place and pointed out the graves of Fr. Tom Burke tre for the Forestry Department. The visitors were con­ and Cardinal Michael Browne. ducted through the historic building and shown relics of the Uncrowned King of Ireland. HUNTINGDON: From Avondale thro' Rathdrum along the road aptly call­ The last outing was to Huntingdon Castle on 5th Sep­ ed The Scenic Route to Glendalough with its seven tember. The owner, Mr. L. Durdin Robertson and his sis­ churches, round tower, beautiful lakes and awe-inspiring ter conducted the party through the various rooms where mountains. From Glendalough the party travelled on the beautiful furniture, the gorgeous tapestries, the or­ through The Wicklow Gap by the giant power station nate ceilings, the artistic stained glass windows and the being erected at Turlough Hill to Blessington with its lov­ exquisite portraits were much admired. In the spacious ely lakes. There Mr. Doran gave another talk on the grounds trees of many species and from many climes history of Blessington. The homeward run was through were to be seen in profusion. Baltinglass and Tullow. From Huntingdon Castle we proceeded to Myshall, where DUBLIN: Mr. Thomas Dobbs of Aclare pointed out the Holy Well On Sunday, 8th August, 80 members visited Dublin. and Church of Baragh and where Mr. A. Burns gave a com­ First they went to Kilmainham where they were con­ prehensive talk on St. Finian, who built the Church. ducted through all the building that has been wonder­ In the grounds of the Brigidine Convent in Tullow, Miss fully restored by a group of voluntary workers. They saw M. T. Kelly gave a synopsis of the history of the cells where the 1916 leaders were imprisoned; the the district and a detailed account of the establishment cells of Robert Emmett, Anne Devlin, Charles S. Parnell. of the Brigidine and Patrician Orders in Tullow early the place where the Invincibles were hanged and the in the 19th century. Stone Yard where the men of 1916 faced the firing As I write the members are considering how the Sil­ squad. Of particular int~rest was the Museum, especially ver Jubilee of the Society can be suitably celebrated. the section devoted to Michael O'Hanrahan. From Kil­ In conclusion I would like to thank the "Nationalist & mainham to Dublin Castle to see the State -Apart­ Leinster Times" for the splendjd coverage they gave ments-including the magnificent St. Patrick's Hall, The throughout the year to the activities of the Old Carlow Bermingham Tower Room, the Throne Room, the Draw­ Society, thus arousing a lively interest in the general ing Rooms and the State Corridor. The party then public in the work of our society. visited the Church of the Most Holy Trinity (formerly 21st October, 1971. Officers and Members of the Old Carlow Society 1971-'72

PATRON: Columba, Sr. M., Clocar na Trocaire, Doyle, T. P. and Mrs., "Sunny Cedars", His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Patrick Ceatharloch Killeshin Road, Carlow. Lennon, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. Conboy, F. J., 403 Buffalo St, Ithaca, Duggan, P. and Mrs., Court View, Car­ N.Y low. LIFE VICE-PRESIDENTS Cogan, Pat, College Street, Carlow. Duggan, W. L. and Mrs., College St., Very Rev. P. MacSuibhne, M.A., Connolly, Mrs. P., Granby Villas, Car­ Carlow. St. Patrick's College, Carlow. low. Mrs. M. O'Neill, Wilton Gardens, Cork. Connolly, Robin, 180 Pollerton Road, Ellis, Brendan and Mrs., Monacurragh, Mr. L. D. Bergin, Carlow Carlow. Editor, "N. & L. Times", Carlow Connolly, Mrs. T, Ballyfoyle, Mageney, Eustace, E. A. R., Newstown, Tullow, Co. Kildare Co. Carlow. CHAIRMAN Conroy, Miss M., Castle Street, Carlow. Fenlon, Mrs. W. J., "Riverville", Mont­ Mr. Alec Burns Corcoran, E. and Mrs., J.K.L. Avenue, Carlow. gomery St., Carlow. Fennell, Mrs. Eileen, "Alma Villa", Sta­ VICE-CHAIRMEN Corr, Rev. J., St. Wilfrid's, Preston. Corless, Miss Catherine, Dublin Street, tion Road, Tullow, Co. Carlow. Fennell, Mrs. J., "Thornville", Palatine, Miss M. T. Kelly, Mrs. B. FitzMaurice, Carlow. Carlow. Miss I. MacLeod Corr, Aid. M. J., 3 79 Bellegiove Road, Fennell, Very Rev T., P.P., Laura, New Welling, Kent. South Wales 2781, Australia. SECRETARY Corr, Jas. J., 9 Bay Ridge, Parkway, Finegan, Mrs. A., Tullow St., Carlow. Mr. Sean O'Leary Brooklyn, N.Y. FitzGerald, Mrs. Des., Shinrone, Offaly. Crombie, B. and Mrs., Pembroke, Car­ FitzMaurice, Maj. A. J. W., Laurel Lodge, TREASURER low. Carlow. Mr. Thomas Smyth Cullen, Miss Mary, Tullow Road, Carlow. FitzMaurice, Mrs. B., "St. Martin's", Hanover, Carlow. EDITOR FitzRoy, Miss A., Montgomery St., Car­ Mr. Edward Brophy Deane, Miss M., St. Killian's Crescent, low. Carlow. Foley, Jas. P., Gorton, Manchester, Eng­ COMMITTEE Declan, Sr. M., Clochar na Trochaire, land. Mrs. W. J. Fenlon, Mrs. T. Smyth, Mrs. Ceatharloch. Foley, Joseph, Sycamore Road, Rathna­ B. Crombie, Mrs M. Pender, Sr. M. Delaney, Mrs. K., Hanover Cross, Car­ pish, Carlow. Brigid, Miss J. Comerford, Messrs F. low. Hutton, M. Dooley, E. Corcoran, P. Delaney, Michael, "Radharc na Mara", Giddy, E. and Mrs., Athy Road, Carlow. Hunt, B Nolan, K. Kennedy. Creagh, Gorey, Co. Wexford. Governey, Francis, "Barrowville", Car­ Delaney, Mrs. N., "Renselar", Graigue­ low. DELEGATES TO ARTS COUNCIL cullen, Carlow. Greco!, John L., Cleveland, Ohio, 44101, Miss M T. Kelly, Mrs M. Canavan. Dempsey, R. and Mrs., Burrin St., Car­ U.S.A. low. MEMBERS Dillon, Mrs. J., St. Killian's Crescent, Hadden, W. V. and Mrs., "Four Winds", Agar, J. R & Mrs., 13 Larkfield, Rath­ Carlow. Tullow Road, Carlow. napish, Carlow. Dillon, Miss P., St. Killian's Crescent, Hade, Miss P., Burrin St., Carlow. Carlow. Hanlon, Mrs. J., College Street, Carlow. Bagenal, J S., Leaside, Hertingfordbury, Dillon, William, Kilcarrig Street, Bagen­ Harvey, Mrs. P., Mill Park House, Kil- Herts., England alstown, Co. Carlow. bride, Co. Carlow. Bolton, Liam, Keelogue, Killeshin, Car­ Dolan, Hugh, 33 St. Killian's Crescent, Haughney, Eamonn, Pollerton Road, Car­ low. Carlow. low. Brigid, Sr M., Presentation Convent, Car­ Donovan, Miss Maire, Science Dept., Reg­ Hawkes, Miss S., "The Nook", Pem­ low ional Technical College, Carlow. broke, Carlow. Brophy, Edward, Rathnapish, Carlow Dooley, Miss M., Athy Road, Carlow. Hayden, Patrick, Astoria, New York. Brophy, Rev P. J, St. Patrick's College, Dooley, Michael, 20 St. Killian's Cres­ Healy, Pat, Sycamore Road, Rathnapish, Carlow cent, Carlow. Carlow. Browne, John, N.T., B.A., H.Dip, Ballina- Dooley, Margaret, 14 St. Killian's Cres­ Healy, R., College St., Carlow. carrig, Carlow. cent, Carlow. Hodges, C. G., 9 Rose Court, Selby Rd., Burke, Jos, Springfield Drive, Carlow. Dooley, Padraig, 14 St. Killian's Cres­ Mowbray Park, Cape, S.A. Burke, Thomas, Springfield Drive, Carlow. cent, Carlow. Hosey, Gerard, Staplestown Road, Car­ Burns, Alec, College St., Carlow. Dowling, John, "Maryville", Burrin St., low. Byrne, W. E, 34 Hillview Drive, Carlow. Carlow. Hosey, Joe, Governey Square, Carlow. Doyle, Mrs. C., Sycamore Road, Rath­ Hughes, Mrs. J., Kildrenagh, Bagenals­ Canavan, Mrs. M., St. Joseph's Road, napish, Carlow. town, Co. Carlow. Carlow. Doyle, Miss D., Pembroke, Carlow. Hughes, Jas. and Mrs., Kildrenagh, Bag­ Cannon, Mrs K., 8278 Caldwell Avenue, Doyle, Jas. and Mrs .. Ballickmoyler Rd., enalstown, Co. Carlow. Long Island, New York. Carlow. Hunt, Patrick, B.A., H.D.E., Tullow, Co. Carbery, D. and Mrs, Pembroke, Carlow. Doyle, Misses M. & D., "Innisfree", Carlow. Chmelar, Edward, Rathnapish, Cariow Station Road, Carlow. Hutton, Frank, Staplestown Road, Car­ Collins, Mrs. C, Newbridge, Co. Kildare. Doyle, Miss Mary, St. Joseph's Road, low. Collins, Sean, 80 Elm Park Drive, Rath- Carlow. Hyland, Mrs. Sadie, "Genazzano", Kil­ napish, Carlow. Doyle, Miss Nellie, Granby Row, Carlow. leshin Road, Carlow.

45 Jackson, Mrs. E., Barrack St., Carlow. O'Broin, Sean, B.Agr.Sc., Stillorgan, Dub­ Proctor, T. and Mrs., Ballickmoon, Oak lin. Park, Carlow. Kealy, Brendan, B.A., H.D.E., Maryboro' O'Farrell, Sean, St. lta's, Blackrock, Dub­ Purcell, Pat and Mrs., Quinagh, Carlow. St., Graiguecullen, Carlow. lin. Purcell, Michael, Jnr., Kennedy Street, Kelly, Miss M. T., The Stream, Castleder­ O'Hanlon, Mrs. A., 74 Green Road, Car­ Carlow. mot Road, Carlow. low. Kelly, Michael and Mrs., Burrin Street, O'Hare, P. J. and Mrs., Rathellin, Leigh­ Ratusky, Mrs. J., Montgomery Street, Carlow. linbridge, Co. Carlow. Carlow. Kelly, Mrs., Rutland, Carlow. O'Keeffe, B. and Mrs., St. Killian's Cres­ Reddy, James, Lower Staplestown Road, Kelly, Thos., Farringdale, Long Island, cent, Carlow. Carlow. N.Y. O'Keeffe, Miss Mary, St. Killian's Cres­ Reynolds, Miss K., 7 Governey Park, Kennedy, Mr. and Mrs. K., Centaur St., cent, Carlow. Graiguecullen, Carlow. Carlow. O'Laoire, An t-Athair Sean, S.O., Tig na Ringwood, Mrs. (Senr.), Hanover, Car­ Sagart, Ceatharloch. low. Lillis, Maj. Gen. Jas., Blackrock, Dublin. O'Leary, Maria, Montgomery St., Car­ Robinson, Miss Phillipa, Frederick Ave., Lillis, T. J. and Mrs., Lumclone House, low. Carlow. Fenagh, Co. Carlow. O'Leary, Sean and Mrs., Montgomery St., Loftus, Mrs. G., Gurteen, Carlow. Carlow. Saywell, J. E. H., 41 Wilton Crescent, Lombard, Mrs. F., Montgomery Street, Oliver, Miss B., Dublin St., Carlow. London S.W.1. Carlow. Oliver, J. and Mrs., "Carrig Rua,", Kil­ Shaw, Miss Nan, J.K.L. Avenue, Carlow. kenny Road, Calrow. Sheehan, Miss E., Salisbury Gardens, McCamey, George and Mrs., Pacelli Ave., Oliver, Sr. M., Presentation Convent, Welwyn Garden City, Herts. Graiguecullen. Carlow. Sheehan, Miss K., N.T., Burrin Street, McDonnell, R. D. and Mrs., Dublin St., O'Neill, James, Castle St., Carlow. Carlow. Carlow. O'Neill, Misses May, Leonie and Lucy, Sheehan, R., Morristown, N.J., U.S.A. McGreal, Miss A., Athy Road, Carlow. Barrack St., Carlow. Sleator, Val., Rathnapish, Carlow. MacLeod, Miss Iona, Pembroke, Carlow. O'Neill, Miss Mary, G.P.O., Carlow. Smyth, Miss Mary, 2 Leinster Crescent, McNamara, Rev. F., The Presbytery, O'Reilly, Mrs. B., "Fruithill", Carlow. Carlow. Carlow. O'Neill, T. and Mrs., Granby Terrace, Smyth, Michael, Newtown, Nurney, Co. MacShamhrain, Padraig, 52, Redesdale Carlow. Carlow. Road, Blackrock, Dublin. O'Neill, Miss Mary, Granby Terrace, Car­ Smyth, T. and Mrs., 2 Leinster Crescent, MacSuibhne, Rev. Sean, St. Patrick's Col­ low. Carlow. lege, Carlow. O'Neill, Thomas, "Gayville". Carlow. Stafford, Mrs. Eamonn, Maryboro St., Mannion, Frank and Mrs., 30 Monacur­ Graiguecullen. ragh, Carlow. Sunderland, Miss Patricia, Centaur St., Osborne, W. S., Bank of Ireland, Car­ Moloney, Mrs. C., Strawhall, Carlow. Carlow. low. Moloney, Michael, N.T., Rathvilly, Co. O'Shea, Miss Aine, Tullow St., Carlow. Treacy, Miss Eileen, College St., Carlow. Carlow. O'SullivlU}fo- Olan, N.T., Oak Park, Car: Turner, Miss K., F.I.A.I., Co. Librarian, Moore, Mrs. E., Pembroke, Carlow. low. Carlow.,. Moore, W. and Mrs., "St. Anne's", Athy Road, Carlow. Waldron, A. and Mrs., Frederick Ave., Moriarty, John, N.T., M.C.C., Tynock, Pack-Beresford, Commdr. D. J., Fenagh Carlow. Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow. House, Co. Carlow. Wall, Miss B., Barrack St., Carlow. Murphy, Miss A., Barrack St., Carlow. Patricia, Sr. M., Presentation Convent, Walsh, Miss Claire, N.T.. ~t. Killian's Murphy, Mrs. Seamus, Pollerton Little, Carlow. Crescent, Carlow. Carlow. Pender, Mrs. Helen, Russelstown, Pala­ Walsh, Mrs. P., Hanover, Carlow. Murray, Aidan and Mrs., 25 Dublin St., tine, Carlow. Walshe, Philip, Unesco, Kampala, Carlow. Pender, Mrs. M., Rainstown, Palatine, Uganda. Murray, Ciaran, 25 Dublin St., Carlow. Carlow. White, Miss Mary, Tullow St., Carlow. Peter, Sr. M., Brigidine Convent, Tullow, Woods, James and Mrs., St. Killian's Nicholl. V. anci Mrs., Duckett's Grove, Co. Carlow. Crescent, Carlow. Carlow. Peters, Mrs. S., 41 Hyde Valley, Welwyn Woods, J. J. and Mrs., "Brigadoon" 31 Nolan, B. and Mrs., Burrin St., Carlow. Garden City, Herts., England. Monacurragh, Carlow. Nolan, Miss C., Burrin St., Carlow. Pierce, Denis, Vancouver. Woods, Miss Kitty, Rainstown, Palatine, Nolan, Mrs. Mary, Barrack St., Carlow. Presentation Cenvent, Carlow. Carlow.

46 For your information: Subscription to Old Carlow Society, 10/- per annum, payable to Hon. Treasurer, Mr. T. Smyth, Leinster Crescent, Carlow. Society's Journal Carloviana published annually, 4/- (20n.p.) per copy.

OLD PHOTOGRAPHS The Editor would be interested to hear from anyone who has old photographs of Carlow and District, no matter how faded or uninteresting these may appear to be. Such photographs sometimes print surprisingly well and may be invaluable when used as illustrations for some article we are considering for the Journal.

The Editor wishes to express his gratitude to the staff of The Nationalist and Leinster Times, without whose assistance this journal could not have been produced.

47 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

Cover Design by Sr. Assumpta St. Leo's Convent of Mercy, Carlow

OLD CARLOW PHOTOGRAPHS:

from Album of the late Donal Godfrey

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FAIR'S FAIR Many people in Carlow seem unfamiliar with the business hours of local Pharmacies. In recent years the hours of the towns' Chemists' shops have not altered. 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. each week day, except Thursday which is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to ,._. 8 p. m. Lack of consideration for these long hours leads to disappointment and unpleasantness. When ill, please call the doctor early and avail of the reasonable pharmacy service at your disposal AYLMERS THE LEIX PHARMACY, CARLOW

First-class Proficiency Diploma, Academy ')f Gent's Hairdressing, London, 1932. E. Haughney ALL CUTI1NG INSTRUMENTS USED IN OUR SAWON ARE EFFECTIVELY STERILIZED BY SHORT WAVE ULTRA VIOLET & Son RADIATION Tel: 41367 BURNS Best House Coal, Anthracite, Machine COLLEGE STREET Turf & Briquettes CARLOW Always in Stock

Gent's Hair Stylist - - Wide range of Toilet Goods 8 to 9 Tons Lorry Loads of

Prize-winner Mallon Cup Hairdressing Com­ Machine Turf & Briquettes petition, Dublin, 1952. at cheap rates Darrers Stores

Better Value

Drapery and Grocery

Telephone 41632 EAMONN THOMAS HEARNS FITZPATRICK VICTUALLER High Class * CHOICE BEEF, MUTTON and LAMB, PICKLED BEEF and OX TONGUES Victualler SAUSAGES and PUDDINGS

POULTRY, RABBIT AND EGG MERCHANT STAPLESTOWN RD. * CARLOW TULLOW STREET Phone 41029 CARLOW Nationalist & Leinster Times Ltd.

42 Tullow Street, Carlow

COLOUR AND ART PRINTERS

The most modern printing machinery in the Provinces

CARPENTERS take over all the trying details of Everything funerals from Relatives and Executors. Let us quote for "all-in" arrangements including arranged for Funerals CEMETERY NEWSPAPERS WREATHS, MEMORY CARDS, ETC. and without

unnecessary For the finest and most economical service in the expense county, telephone, call or write to : CARPENTER BROTHERS FUNERAL UNDERTAKERS BARRACK STREET, CARLOW Established 1927 Phone: Carlow 41237 CB LUXURY LOUNGE BAR Insist on Kellistown Fresh Eggs fresh daily from our farm

Meaty, succulent chickens and fresh Eggs are sent out daily from BRENDAN BROPHY'S farm at Kellistown, Co. Carlow.

Trade Enquiries:

SEAN O'HARA, SMITHFIELD, DUBLIN Phone 774531

F. GROGAN, PEMBROKE, CARLOW Phone 41612

NOLAN'S Hughes Brothers CHEMISTS 35 RIVERSIDE & COLLEGE ST.

FOR ALL HIGH-CLASS PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS Carlow

* WORKS COLLEGE ST Manufacturers of the highest grade medicines. All the leading Brands of Ethical Pro­ prietaries stocked. Local Agent for Helena Rubenstein's Famous Cosmetics. Memorials erected in FILMS DEVELOPED AND PRINTED Marble, Limestone QUICK SERVICE BEST RESULTS and Granite E. J. Nolan ALL WORK CARRIED OUT UNDER M.P.S.1., Prop., PERSONAL SUPERVISION

1, DUBLIN ST., & 1, CASTLE ST., Designs & Quotations on Request

CARLOW Phone: 41680 PHONE 41437 I I I STATHAM (Carlow) LTD.

MAIN FORD & FORDSON DEALERS CARLOW

COUR MOTTO)

100 per cent. SERVICE. 100 per cent. SATISFACTION

Telephone 41665 (2 lines)

Ring 41123 and have all your SUTTONS Dairy Produce delivered daily SUPERMARKET LEIX I CASTLE ST., CARLOW

Pasteurised Baking GROCERY PROVISIONS Milk Milk, HARDWARE and DAIRY Fresh AT THE TOP FOR QUALITY Cream Farm Eggs AT THE BOTTOM FOR PRICE and Butter CASTLE ST. TOP HOP AVE CARLOW AT UTTONS WE SERVE THE BEST WITH FREE DELIVERY WITHIN THE URBAN AREA Phone 41653 THE BEST r

DONALD NOLAN

Building Contractor - Reconstruction Work

72 TULLOW ST. Phone 41246

For Best Drinks & Personal Attention come to

NOLAN'S 72 TULLOW ·sT.

Phone 41346 "Doctors, Statesmen, Sportsmen and Editors SMOKE : BRAM LEV'S G.B.D., Dr. PLUMB & K.P. PIPES and no wonder! they are manufactured from 1st grade material and give 100 per cent. 62 & 63 DUBLIN STREET satisfaction" * CARLOW 'The Thinking Man Smokes a Pipe'

Agent for ROLEX Watches * For all Smokers' Requisites YOUR PORT OF CALL IS * CIGAR DIVAN The Fashionable Gift-

WATERFORD GLASS and 50 DUBLIN STREET, CARLOW BELLEEK CHINA Estd. 80 years Phone41189 BUILDERS CARLOW TELEPHONE 41208

ATHY

TELEPHONE 21317 CONTRACTORS An· Old Carlow Industry

CARLO ORANGE CARLO LEMON

LEMONADE LEMON FLAVOURED MINERAL SODA

DRY GINGER STONE BEER ALE WATERS

GRAPE FRUIT TONIC WATER

CIDERETTE COLA MANUFACTURED BY

CASTLE ORANGE CORCORAN & co. ORANGE CRUSH LIMITED

CARLOW

Established 1827 Phone 41849